Immigration officers face internal probe after suspected drug abuse

Summary

• The Immigration Department has transferred three officers who were recently caught at an entertainment centre and suspected of drug use, pending investigations.

• The department says this is to allow an orderly and transparent probe.

At least three Immigration officers suspected of drug use and two others who tested negative after being caught at an entertainment centre have been immediately transferred to pool positions.

When contacted, the Immigration Department confirmed the matter to Malaysiakini.

“The Immigration Department views any allegations of misconduct involving officers of this department seriously, whether from aspects of integrity or discipline.

“To ensure that internal investigations can be conducted in an orderly and transparent manner, the officers involved have been placed in pool positions as an interim measure.

“This placement is an administrative action that allows the investigation process by the integrity division, Immigration Department, and relevant authorities to be carried out without disruption to the department’s daily tasks or operational priorities,” it told Malaysiakini via email.

It added that this action is in line with human resource management procedures in the public sector, which prioritise the principles of fairness, transparency, and compliance with existing regulations.

Officers arrested

Malaysiakini understands that on April 14, the police arrested seven government employees, consisting of a police station chief, five immigration officers, and an MACC officer, at an entertainment centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Previously, the MACC confirmed the arrest of one of its officers, who was once appointed as the head of the Immigration Department’s integrity unit for a state before being transferred back to the anti-graft agency’s headquarters.

Malaysiakini is still unable to independently confirm whether this is the same case mentioned in a previous police statement regarding a station chief in KL who was arrested after being suspected of taking drugs at an entertainment centre in Pandan Perdana, Ampang Jaya on April 18.

The station chief was transferred to the Penang police contingent headquarters immediately afterwards.

An investigation was conducted by the Immigration Department Headquarters into the immigration officer’s arrest at KLIA2, which occurred on March 27.

The officer was granted police bail from the police station in Precinct 7, Putrajaya, with a Malaysian guarantor for 90 days from the date of arrest.

‘Fly syndicate’

The Immigration Department told Malaysiakini that the officer is being investigated for suspected involvement in the “fly syndicate”, which illegally extends the stay of foreigners.

The officer had allegedly done so by stamping the passport of a foreign citizen without the holder’s presence, the department said.

It explained that such activities are punished with a fine of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.

“The department has taken action against the officer by detaining them until the case is resolved.

“The investigation is still ongoing to obtain some important evidence for prosecution.

“The investigation results will be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further instructions,” it told Malaysiakini.

On March 27, the Immigration officer was detained at KLIA2 on suspicion of being involved in bringing in foreigners through the country’s entry points, believed to be without going through immigration checks.

He was found with nine Pakistani passports and two Sri Lankan passports.

Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban said the officer is being investigated under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966.

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