PUTRAJAYA: A man from Myanmar is suspected to have earned more than RM1 million by selling counterfeit documents to citizens of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
According to reports, the suspect started producing fake papers before the implementation of the first movement control order in early 2020 to combat the spread of Covid-19.
The man, in his thirties, was apprehended on July 13 after an operation was carried out.
Ruslin Jusoh, the director-general of the Immigration Department, stated that the suspect, known as ‘Ayake,’ offered a variety of counterfeit documents, such as Myanmar passports, temporary work permits, Myanmar marriage certificates, UNHCR (refugee) cards, CIDB cards, and Myanmar driver’s licenses. These documents were sold for prices ranging from RM200 to RM1,000 each.
“Our investigation revealed that the suspect himself possessed a fake Myanmar passport. He provided these services to Bangladesh and Myanmar nationals through WhatsApp,” Ruslin told reporters at the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya.
The department monitored the suspect’s activities for two months before detaining him while he was en route to deliver counterfeit temporary work permits to a buyer at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
“When our personnel approached him, the suspect attempted to flee the scene. After a short pursuit, he was eventually apprehended,” Ruslin explained.
During a search of the suspect, one temporary work permit sticker was found on him. Additionally, two Myanmar passports, RM26,000, and another temporary work permit sticker were discovered in the Honda CRV that he was driving.
Ruslin stated that the suspect then led Immigration personnel to a residential unit in Sentul, where they found 26 UNHCR cards, two CIDB cards, three temporary work permits, eight Myanmar passports, one Myanmar driver’s license, and RM1,500.
“All the seized documents are suspected to be counterfeit. The suspect focused his operations in the Klang Valley area and primarily targeted clients from Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is believed that he made a minimum of RM360,000 per year,” Ruslin added.
Ruslin also confirmed that the suspect is currently detained at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot while investigations are ongoing.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
