Latest news with #PerakImmigrationDepartment
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
54 Southeast Asian women arrested in Perak massage parlour raids
IPOH: Fifty-four foreign women were arrested in raids on 13 premises across the city, where immigration officers uncovered massage parlours allegedly offering sexual services under the guise of wellness centres. The operation, led by the Perak Immigration Department, exposed a network of premises believed to be involved in illicit activities, all while posing as centres for massage therapy. The state Immigration Department director Datuk James Lee said the enforcement action was carried out following two weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering. A total of 91 officers from the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Immigration Departments took part in the raids. "Our focus was to clamp down on immoral activities, particularly those operating under the pretext of massage services," Lee said. Among those detained were 48 women from Thailand, two from Indonesia, and four from Vietnam, aged between 20 and 35. Lee said the women had entered Malaysia on social visit passes but were found to be working illegally, in violation of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963. "These individuals clearly misused their visit passes to engage in illegal employment, in this case, providing immoral services," he said. He added that initial investigations revealed the services were being promoted on social media platforms such as TikTok and WhatsApp, where potential customers could view offers and arrange appointments either at the parlours or at private residences. The illicit services were typically priced between RM50 and RM100, Lee said. Local customers were found on-site during the raids and were served with a notice to appear at the immigration office for further investigation. The owners and operators of the implicated premises will also be summoned for questioning, authorities confirmed.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Perak JIM arrests three locals in Chemor immigration operation
IPOH: The Perak Immigration Department (JIM) arrested three locals during Ops Serkap at the Kanthan Industrial Area in Chemor. The operation was conducted at 1.25 pm on Wednesday in collaboration with Putrajaya Immigration Headquarters and Perak JIM Enforcement Division. Datuk James Lee, Perak JIM director, confirmed the arrests were based on intelligence and public tip-offs. Twelve immigration officers were involved in the operation, which concluded at 8 pm. The suspects, two men and a woman, are being investigated under Section 12(A) of the Passport Act 1966. They allegedly made false statements or submitted fraudulent documents to obtain passports or visas under another person's name. Additionally, they face charges under Section 12(1)(h) for aiding others in violating immigration laws. Lee urged the public to report any information on illegal immigrants or employers hiring them. The department remains committed to enforcing immigration laws to curb illegal entry and document fraud. - Bernama
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Two former senior Perak Immigration officers freed on corruption charges
IPOH: The High Court here acquitted and discharged two former Perak Immigration officers on charges of soliciting and receiving bribes. They are former Perak Immigration Director Zulhairin Yahya, 53, and former Head of the Perak Immigration Prosecution Unit Zaidi Dali, 57, who were alleged to have solicited and accepted bribes seven years ago. Lawyer M. Athimulan, when contacted by Bernama, said Judge Moses Susayen acquitted Zulhairin and Zaidi after allowing their appeal on Friday (Aug 8). "In short, the judge found their conviction unsafe. Therefore, the court allowed the appeal of both accused and ordered them acquitted and discharged," said Athimulan, who represented Zaidi. On Sept 23, 2022, Zulhairin and Zaidi were sentenced by the Sessions Court to three years in prison and fined RM85,000 each after finding them guilty of soliciting and receiving bribes. Judge S. Indra Nehru sentenced the two men to three years in prison and a fine of RM50,000, and another 10 months in prison if they failed to pay the fine, for the offence of soliciting a bribe of RM10,000 every month so that no inspection would be carried out at an entertainment centre in Manjung. They were also sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of RM35,000, in default eight months in jail, each, for two offences of receiving a bribe of RM7,000. Zulhairin and Zaidi were allowed a stay of the execution of their prison sentences pending their appeals at the High Court. The two men were jointly charged with soliciting a bribe of RM10,000 per month from Nga Chee Jiek, as an inducement to ensure that no inspection and raid were carried out on an entertainment centre in Pusat Bandar Seri Manjung. The offence was allegedly committed at the Club House Meru Valley Golf & Country Club here at 9pm on Nov 5, 2015. Zulhairin was also charged as the Perak Immigration Department Director with obtaining a bribe of RM7,000 from Nga through Zaidi, as an inducement to ensure no inspection and raid were carried out on the same entertainment centre at the Knock Knock Meru Jaya Restaurant here, at 12.05am on Nov 12, 2015. Zaidi was also charged in his capacity as the Head of the Prosecution Unit of the Perak Immigration Department with obtaining a bribe for himself and the State Immigration Director amounting to RM7,000 from Nga, as an inducement to ensure that no inspection and raid was carried out on the same entertainment centre at the Meru Valley Golf & Country Club car park here, at 9.55pm on Nov 11, 2015. All the charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) and Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which is punishable under Section 24 of the same act and provides a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher upon conviction. The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Maziyah Mansor, while lawyer Mohd Baharuddin Ahmad Kassim acted on behalf of Zulhairin. – Bernama
The Star
19-07-2025
- The Star
Foreign woman abandons family during immigration raid in Ipoh
IPOH: A foreign woman, believed to be from Sulawesi, fled and left behind her husband and two young children during a pre-dawn immigration raid at a construction site in Persiaran Panorama Lapangan Perdana here on Saturday (July 19). The family was among over 200 foreigners screened in the joint operation by the Perak Immigration Department and the General Operations Force. Her husband and children, aged two and three, were detained, while she escaped. Perak Immigration director Datuk James Lee. Perak Immigration director Datuk James Lee said about 120 individuals were arrested for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and related regulations. "Our main focus was on those using fake or expired documents, or staying in the country illegally,' he said. He urged employers to deal directly with the Immigration Department and avoid using middlemen. Those detained will be sent to the Home Ministry Complex, while undocumented children will be placed in a special depot. - Bernama
New Straits Times
19-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Foreign woman abandons family during immigration raid
IPOH: A foreigner, believed to be from Sulawesi, fled and left behind her husband and two young children during a pre-dawn immigration raid at a construction site in Persiaran Panorama Lapangan Perdana here today. The family was among over 200 foreigners screened in the joint operation by the Perak Immigration Department and the General Operations Force. Her husband and children, aged two and three, were detained, while she escaped. Perak Immigration director Datuk James Lee said about 120 individuals were arrested for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and related regulations. "Our main focus was on those using fake or expired documents, or staying in the country illegally," he said. He urged employers to deal directly with the Immigration Department and avoid using middlemen. Those detained will be sent to the Home Ministry Complex, while undocumented children will be placed in a special depot.
