PUTRAJAYA: Social media promotions were used to attract foreigners through the recently dismantled "counter setting" operations, said the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said.
Azam said investigations showed the syndicate agents promoted packages for those interested in entering Malaysia via Facebook, Telegram as well as other social media platforms.
"Once the agent has gathered foreigners, they will contact the Immigration Department officer using WhatsApp to schedule times and dates for the group to enter.
"Only once the officer gives them the green light, will the syndicate pass on the details of the foreigners including passport information and pictures of them," he told reporters here today.
He said the officer would then provide them with the details of a "special counter" that these foreigners must pass through as they enter Malaysia.
"Once they pass the counter, the agents will bring these foreigners to their respective destinations.
"Based on our checks the officers received bribes to the tune of between RM200 and RM2,500 for each foreigner that passes through the special counter," he said.
He added that their intelligence revealed that the officers had code names and different rates for the various nationalities involved.
"We found that they called the Bangladesh national 'School Boy' and charged RM2,500 per pax.
"The Myanmar nationals were called 'Junta' and were charged RM1,500 per person while the Pakistanis were designated the code name Carpet and were charged RM1,300 per person," he said adding that those from Yemen were charged RM1,000 to enter.
He said the Indian nationals were given the code names 'Kicap' and 'Roti Canai' and were charged RM800 per person.
"They also charged RM500 for those who hailed from Uzbekistan while the China nationals were designated the code name 'Limau' and charged RM350 per person," he said adding that the Vietnam nationals were also charged RM350 and designated the code name 'Laici' or 'Nguyen' while the Indonesians were designated the code name 'Salak' and were charged RM300 per person.