a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
EAIC: Immigration officers abused power in medical visa approvals
KUALA LUMPUR: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has found that Immigration officers abused their power by approving medical visas for foreigners from several countries.
In a statement, the EAIC said its Special Task Force, led by Commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Razali Ab Malik, will refer the findings of its investigation to the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC).
"The Special Task Force found that Immigration officers had approved medical visas for foreign nationals from several countries, despite knowing that the submitted application documents were incomplete and failed to meet the requirements outlined in Immigration Circular No. 10/2001.
"As a result, the EAIC has decided to refer the investigation's findings to the A-GC under Paragraph 30(1)(c) of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009, with a recommendation for criminal charges to be brought against the officers involved, under provisions of the Penal Code, the Immigration Act 1959/63, and the Passport Act 1966," it said.
The EAIC said Razali noted that the Special Task Force had reviewed violations in the medical visa approval process.
This included assessments of procedural compliance, witness interviews, document seizures, and the preparation of recommendations for further action.
Previously, the EAIC was reported to have formed the Special Task Force under Subsection 17(1) of the EAIC Act 2009 to investigate misconduct involving the issuance of medical visas to foreigners.
Based on preliminary findings presented at a commission meeting on Oct 15 last year, it was decided that a full investigation would be conducted into suspicious activities believed to be linked to a syndicate, using the seized documents.
On Oct 8, 2024, the EAIC reportedly visited the Immigration Department's Visa, Pass, and Permit Division in Putrajaya, where it seized 156 application files for Social Visit Passes (Treatment Pass category).
The seizure followed complaints alleging that Immigration officers had issued these passes without following proper procedures.
