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MACC: Agent who solicited fee from Chinese national escapes authorities

PUTRAJAYA: The agent who had solicited a fee from a Chinese national that was denied entry into the country has escaped the authorities.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki today said the graftbusters were unable to locate the agent and the Chinese national involved.

"We have checked the immigration records, and the system showed that they have left the country.

"If they are still in the country, we urge those with information to come forward and assist us in the investigations," he said during a press conference at the MACC headquarters, here, today.

Azam added he had instructed the MACC to conclude its investigation into the matter and hand over the papers to Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.

Earlier this month he said the MACC investigation on the case was far from over, with a slew of people being called in to be questioned.

The commission had recorded statements from 14 people, including eight Immigration officers, the two foreigners, Tourism, Arts and Culture minister Tiong King Sing as well as a company director.

The two foreigners were allowed to return to China after their statements were recorded.

An investigation was also launched to examine the role of the company handling passengers who had received Not-To-Land (NTL) notices

The issue came to light when Tiong was accused of barging into the KLIA arrival hall on June 30 to intervene in the detention of two Chinese nationals.

He later said he was there in his capacity as a minister to check on claims by foreign travellers of heavy-handedness by Immigration officers.

He claimed that a "culture of corruption" existed among some Immigration personnel at KLIA, and that there were complaints of bribes being demanded from travellers.

Tiong also took issue with the appointment of a company tasked with handling NTL visitors and the alleged lack of transparency involved.

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