Passport Forgery Syndicate Targeting Foreign Worker Health Screenings Busted - JIM

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) successfully uncovered a syndicate specialising in forging and modifying passports to bypass FOMEMA (foreign worker health screening) requirements.

A Bangladeshi student was arrested during a special operation across two locations in Sentul yesterday.

Deputy Director-General (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli said that the operation was conducted by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division following a month of surveillance and public tip-offs. Initial checks revealed that the 27-year-old Bangladeshi suspect holds a valid student pass.

"The syndicate's modus operandi was to offer services to Bangladeshi nationals in the Klang Valley who needed to undergo FOMEMA health screenings but were found to be ‘unfit’ or had failed previous checks.

“Passports were altered or modified as needed to ensure they could be used during the medical screening process," he said in a statement today.

Lokman Effendi added that the operations team seized 22 suspected forged Bangladeshi passports, access cards, a computer set, a printer, a cutting machine, a laser engraving machine, a curve cutter, and a Benelli Leoncino motorcycle believed to be used in the illicit activity.

To avoid detection, the syndicate utilised runners to deliver the finished forged passports to clients, with all payments made via online transfers.

The syndicate has been operating for about six months and Monthly output is estimated to be between 200 to 300 forged passports. 

The Bangladeshi national was detained under Section 56(1)(i) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and has been taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further action.

Additionally, a Malaysian man has been issued a notice to appear at the office to assist with the investigation.

-- BERNAMA