Members of a syndicate accused of hacking the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) allegedly paid bribes ranging from RM1,000 to RM6,000 to Immigration Department (JIM) officers to help secure Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) without following proper procedures.
According to a source, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 12 individuals in connection with the case.
Those detained include two company directors, three foreign nationals, six Immigration Department officers—including two from the Information Technology Division—and one police officer suspected of conspiring in the hacking operation.
Five male suspects have been remanded for three days until July 31, while another five men and two women have been remanded for two days until July 30.
The remand orders were issued by Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah following an application by the MACC at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The source said raids were carried out at several company premises, as well as the Penang Immigration Department and the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya.
During the operation, the MACC seized RM186,360 in cash, SGD700 (approximately RM2,214), and jewellery worth RM15,700.
Investigators also confiscated mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices estimated to be worth RM36,000 as part of the investigation.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Sections 16(a) and 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
The 12 suspects, comprising 10 men and two women aged between their 30s and 40s, were arrested between 2pm and 5pm on Tuesday at the MACC headquarters and the Penang Immigration Department.
The operation, codenamed Op Crack, was led by the MACC’s Intelligence Division in collaboration with the Immigration Department’s Intelligence Division. It was conducted across the Klang Valley and Penang with support from CyberSecurity Malaysia, Telekom Malaysia, the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), and the MACC’s Technology Forensics Division.
