The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission seized about 3.2kg of jewellery worth an estimated RM1.6 million from six airport counter staff suspected of receiving bribes in exchange for allowing foreign nationals to enter the country illegally.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said five of the six suspects were immigration department officers.
The items were seized during raids by Selangor MACC from Sept 9 to 11 targeting assets believed to have been acquired through bribes, he said in a statement.
The other items seized included a plot of land, a house, several luxury vehicles, 75 pieces of gold valued at about RM400,000, branded handbags, 20 luxury watches worth about RM100,000 and cash totalling RM20,000.
Selangor MACC also froze 70 bank accounts, bringing the total value of seizures to about RM3.3 million.
Khusairi said the officers are believed to have received payments from agents in exchange for facilitating the entry of foreign nationals into the country as part of a counter setting syndicate.
Counter setting involves selected travellers being allowed through immigration inspection without undergoing proper procedures.
Nineteen enforcement officers were among those arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan this week on suspicion of involvement in counter setting syndicates.
MACC chief Azam Baki yesterday said enforcement officers received up to RM50,000 a month in bribes from counter setting syndicates in exchange for allowing foreigners to enter the country illegally.
Azam said the officers received between RM1,800 and RM2,500 in bribes for each foreigner allowed into Malaysia, with the payments made in cash or through mule accounts.
