PETALING JAYA, Sept 14 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confiscated about 3.2kg of jewellery worth an estimated RM1.6 million from six airport counter staff suspected of taking bribes to allow foreign nationals to enter the country illegally.
In a statement posted on its TikTok page, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said five of those detained were officers from the Immigration Department.
The seizures were made during Selangor MACC raids carried out between September 9 and 11, targeting assets believed to have been obtained through corruption.
Among the other items confiscated were a plot of land, a house, several luxury vehicles, 75 gold pieces worth around RM400,000, branded handbags, 20 luxury watches estimated at RM100,000, and RM20,000 in cash.
Selangor MACC also froze 70 bank accounts, bringing the total value of seizures to about RM3.3 million.
According to the statement, the suspects were believed to have accepted payments from agents to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals as part of a counter setting syndicate, where selected travellers are allowed to bypass immigration checks without going through proper procedures.
Nineteen enforcement officers have been arrested this week in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan in connection with the counter setting operations.
Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said officers involved in the syndicates could earn up to RM50,000 a month in bribes by letting foreigners through illegally.
He said the officers were typically paid between RM1,800 and RM2,500 for each foreign national allowed into Malaysia, with the money delivered either in cash or channelled through mule accounts.
