Housewife's RM6,000 'Immigration officer' act busted

In Melaka, a housewife in her 50s was arrested for allegedly posing as a senior immigration officer and charging RM6,000 per client. It's believed her scheme had been active for around two years. She was apprehended at a cafe in Taman Malim Jaya while arranging a Temporary Employment Visit Pass application for a Chinese national. Melaka Immigration director, Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini, revealed the woman's arrest stemmed from a complaint and intelligence gathering by the department's enforcement division.

The suspect allegedly impersonated a senior director at the Immigration headquarters and the Integrity Chief. She reportedly demanded RM6,000 from clients, offering to manage work permit applications on their behalf, eliminating the need for them to visit the Immigration office. At her arrest, she was accompanied by a client.

Upon her arrest, officers seized items that suggested her false identity, including a black uniform with accessories, insignias of a senior officer, a collar badge, and other items bearing the department's letterhead. She had no connection to the Immigration Department and lived with five children. Authorities found that she operated from multiple locations in Melaka, using social media to boost her credibility.

The investigation into how she obtained the department's uniform and whether accomplices were involved is ongoing. She is currently in the Alor Gajah Sessions Court, facing up to four days' remand to aid the ongoing investigation. All information is sourced from the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.