Immigration Dept busts document forgery syndicate

PUTRAJAYA, June 28 -- The Immigration Department has detained a Myanmar national for his alleged involvement in various types of document forgery since four years ago.

Immigration director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the 38-year-old man, known as ‘Rockers’, who is married to a Malaysian and a spousal long-term visit pass holder, was detained while he was about to meet a client near the Plaza Kota Raya shopping centre in the federal capital, last Saturday.

He said investigations found that the man possessed a high level of skill of producing forged documents that have between 50 and 60 per cent similarities to the authentic ones.

“It is believed that the suspect has been carrying out such activities around the federal capital alone, while his clients were mostly foreigners from Myanmar and Bangladesh,” he told a press conference here today.

Khairul Dzaimee said the modus operandi used by the suspect was to rent two luxury condominium units in Bandar Tasik Selatan, Cheras to deceive the authorities.

The suspect stayed with his family in one of the condominium units and used the other as a place to conduct his illegal activities.

“We confiscated a computer, nine printers, two lamination machines, an engraving machine, a scanner and several other equipment used to produce forged documents at the premises.

“Also seized were various fake documents such as immigration i-cards, UNHCR cards, passports of various countries such as India, Indonesia and the United States, marriage certificates, Myanmar birth certificates, international driving licences and RM15,300 cash,” he said. 

Khairul Dzaimee said the suspect, who has been living in Malaysia since 2016, usually communicated with his clients via WhatsApp, Viber, Wechat and Telegram applications.

He said the suspect was also believed to be charging between RM100 and RM1,000 for each falsified document, adding that the man could earn around RM18,000 a month from his illegal business.

The suspect has been remanded for 14 days since last Saturday to assist in investigations under Section 55(D) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for forgery.

-- BERNAMA