Immigration lodges police report over viral UTC Pudu passport cover incident
KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has lodged a police report over a viral social media post by a woman who claimed she was humiliated and accused of stealing a passport cover at the UTC Pudu Immigration office.
The Immigration Department in Malaysia has filed a police report following a viral social media post alleging an incident at the UTC Pudu Immigration office. The woman at the center of the controversy claimed she was humiliated and accused of stealing a passport cover during her application process. However, the department's investigation revealed inconsistencies between her claims and the evidence gathered from CCTV footage, records, and officer statements.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban stated that the department takes the matter seriously to clarify the actual circumstances based on the facts obtained. The controversy began on August 21, when the woman alleged she mistakenly took a passport cover, believing it was included with her newly issued passport. Upon her return to retrieve it, she claims she was called to a room by Immigration officers, surrounded by over ten of them, and accused of stealing the cover despite her attempts to explain the mistake.
Her husband was also reprimanded for defending her, and both were asked to produce their mobile phones for officers to check their call logs after a dispute over a call the officers allegedly made. The officers later found that the wrong number had been dialed. The woman claimed she was then given the option to either go to a police station or admit to stealing the cover, which she chose to write a statement denying any intention to steal.
The passport cover was later returned, and she maintained she remained at the premises until her husband arrived. The woman also said she lodged a complaint with the Home Ministry regarding the handling of the matter. According to Zakaria, the department respects individuals' rights to share their experiences but emphasizes the need for accurate and comprehensive information to ensure a fair assessment and prevent misunderstandings.
The department remains committed to handling complaints transparently, professionally, and without prejudice while providing services with integrity and in the public interest.
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