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, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki said.
Counter setting involves selected travellers being allowed through immigration inspection without undergoing proper procedures.
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.
“On average, the officers involved would receive between RM10,000 and RM50,000 a month depending on the number of foreigners cleared,” Sinar Harian reported him as saying.
“An agent would provide the officers with the foreigners’ details such as passport numbers and flight tickets before being informed which counters the foreigners should pass through.”
The officers manning the counters would then ease the foreigners’ entry process or allow them to bypass thorough checks.
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.
Azam said officers from the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) and the immigration department, including team leaders, supervisors, and immigration counter staff, were among those detained.
Their ranks ranged from Grade KP1 to KP9 and they were aged between 23 and 54.
MACC seized more than RM200,000 in cash, several items of jewellery, gold bars, cars, motorcycles, handbags, watches, and telecommunication devices.
It also froze 57 bank accounts with a total of more than RM2.7 million.
