EAIC calls for criminal action against Immigration officers involved in illegal medical visa scheme
The EAIC said the investigation, carried out by a Special Task Force led by EAIC Commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Razali Ab Malik, focused on the issuance of social visit passes under the medical visa category to foreigners from several countries without going through the proper process.
According to the EAIC, the investigation included reviewing approval procedures, recording witness statements, seizing documents and preparing recommendations for further action by the authorities.
'The investigation found that there was abuse of power by immigration officers who approved medical visas to foreigners from several countries, despite being aware that the application documents submitted were incomplete and did not comply with the criteria under the Malaysian Immigration Circular No. 10/2001,' it said in a statement today.
Following these findings, the EAIC decided to refer the case to the Attorney-General's Chambers in accordance with Paragraph 30(1)© of Act 700.
The EAIC said that criminal charges have been recommended against the officers involved under the Penal Code (Act 574); the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155); and/or the Passports Act 1966 (Act 150). — Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Singapore F1 tycoon Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty in case involving former transport minister Iswaran
SINGAPORE, July 28 — In a significant development, property tycoon Ong Beng Seng is set to plead guilty on August 4 to charges related to a case involving former Singapore transport minister S. Iswaran. This decision follows a pre-trial conference held on July 28. Ong, 79, who is currently out on S$800,000 (RM2.6 million) bail, has been navigating the legal system for several months. The businessman planned to plead guilty on April 2. However, this was postponed after his legal team requested additional time to obtain his medical reports. The plea was then rescheduled for July 3, but was again delayed as both the prosecution and defence required more time to file further submissions on sentencing. The case has since undergone multiple pre-trial conferences, reflecting its complexity and high stakes. In October 4, 2024, Ong was accused of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and obstructing justice. According to court documents, Ong allegedly arranged for Iswaran to fly on his private plane from Singapore to Doha in December 2022, a flight valued at US$7,700 (RM25,372). Additionally, Ong is accused of arranging a one-night stay for Mr. Iswaran at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at S$4,737.63, and a business-class flight from Doha to Singapore, valued at S$5,700. The court documents further reveal that Ong informed Iswaran that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had seized the flight manifest for the December 2022 trip. Iswaran then told Ong to bill him for the flight to avoid investigations. As a result, Ong was charged with abetment of obstruction of justice. Ong is widely recognised for bringing Formula One (F1) to Singapore in 2008, marking the first night race in the sport's history. Iswaran, who was the chairman of the F1 steering committee and the Singapore government's chief negotiator with Singapore GP on business matters related to the race, worked closely with Ong in the mid-2000s to convince then Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to make Singapore the venue for the sport's first night race. Iswaran was handed a 12-month jail term on October 3, 2024, for accepting valuable items from Ong, among other charges.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
In SRC civil suit, Umno insists RM16m from Jendela Pinggiran was bona fide donation, used funds for CSR
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — The High Court here was told today that Umno had no knowledge that the RM16 million it received from Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd (JPSB) could be traced to any breach of duty or trust. Umno's counsel, Mohamed Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, submitted that the party received the said sum as donations and contributions. 'No evidence that the plaintiffs only knew of the RM16 million sum was disbursed due to breach of duty or trust by their former directors sometime in 2019. 'Umno at all times was a bona fide recipient of the RM16 million sum and the said sum has been spent and utilised by Umno in activities and programmes that were corporate social responsibility (CSR) in nature,' he said. The counsel made the submission during the hearing of a lawsuit filed by SRC International Sdn Bhd and its two subsidiaries – Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd (GMSB) and Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd (JPSB) – against Umno and Selangor Umno. Mohamed Shahrul Fazli also submitted that there is no evidence to show that former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, as the Advisor Emeritus of SRC at that time, had instructed the Board of SRC, GMSB or JPSB to disburse the RM16 million sum to Umno. 'The evidence only shows that the Board of SRC hold the ultimate decision-making authority for the management of business to fulfil SRC's objectives. 'It is clear that Datuk Seri Najib cannot, in essence or substance, be construed as a shadow director of the plaintiffs or their directing mind and will. At all times, Datuk Seri Najib's roles in the plaintiffs were due to his official capacity and subject to SRC's Articles of Association,' he added. Meanwhile, SRC's counsel Razlan Hadri Zulkifli submitted that there are no contemporaneous documents from JPSB or SRC to explain the transfer of RM16 million to Umno. He said there was also no reason whatsoever for the plaintiff to transfer, donate or gift the said sum to Umno and for the latter to receive these monies, to which Umno do not even have any relationship or knowledge of the plaintiffs, in the first place. 'Umno is harping on the fact that these monies were received by way of political donation. That is simply untenable given that Umno did not even verify or account for the RM16 million received at all times. 'Umno merely assumes the monies to be a political donation. To date, there have been no records shown whatsoever of the purpose for the transfer of RM16 million to Umno or reasons why JPSB's cheques were in the hands of Datuk Seri Najib at that material time,' he said. In the lawsuit against Umno, the plaintiffs are seeking RM16 million, which they allege was wrongfully transferred to the political party, asserting that Umno had no basis to receive the funds. The second lawsuit involves a claim of RM3.5 million against the Selangor Umno, which is also accused of receiving the funds. The hearing before Judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan continues on Wednesday. — Bernama
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Court dismisses lawsuit by sisters seeking declaration they were never Muslim
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — The High Court in Shah Alam here has dismissed a lawsuit from twin sisters contesting their conversions to Islam. Judicial Commissioner Rozi Bainun ruled that the matter of religious status falls under the jurisdiction of the Shariah Court, Free Malaysia Today reported. She noted that the sisters had already initiated proceedings in the Shariah Court to determine their status but later withdrew the case. Rozi said the case should not have been withdrawn and urged the pair to present witnesses and evidence to support their claims of forced conversion. The sisters, now 26 years' old, alleged that they were compelled to convert to Islam at the age of 14 by their biological mother. Their mother, who had embraced Islam after remarrying a Muslim man, brought them to the Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim) office in 2013. There, the twins said they were made to recite the 'kalimah shahada', the Islamic declaration of faith, without understanding its meaning and later received conversion certificates. They claimed they have never practised Islam, continued observing Taoist beliefs, and sought a court declaration that they were never Muslims, naming the Selangor government and Islamic council as defendants.
