Melaka housewife jailed 12 months for posing as senior Immigration officer, offering work pass services

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — A 51-year-old housewife who posed as a senior Immigration Department officer and offered to arrange work passes for foreign workers has been sentenced to 12 months in prison and fined RM8,000, Sinar Harian reported.

The Alor Gajah Sessions Court handed down the sentence yesterday after the woman pleaded guilty to possessing forged documents under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Melaka Immigration Department director Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini said the accused, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court judge Kamarul Aris Kamalluddin.

“The court sentenced her to 12 months’ imprisonment from the date of her arrest, as well as a fine of RM8,000.

“If she fails to pay the fine, the accused was ordered to serve an additional six months in prison,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

The woman, a mother of five, was believed to have impersonated a senior immigration officer and offered to handle foreign workers’ work pass applications without requiring the applicants to appear in person at an immigration office.

During a raid, the Immigration Department seized a Honda Civic, three mobile phones, a set of black uniform clothing and accessories, senior immigration officer rank insignia, a department collar badge, an integrity badge, a name tag, a service lanyard, a Setia Berjasa badge and a pair of black work shoes.

Anirwan said the department viewed seriously any attempt to impersonate immigration officers or forge documents linked to immigration services.

He said such acts were not only unlawful but could mislead the public and undermine confidence in the department’s integrity and credibility.

“Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant and not be easily deceived by anyone claiming to be a JIM officer.

“Any dealings involving immigration services should be conducted through official channels or by going in person to the nearest JIM office,” he said.

The woman was charged under Section 56(1)(l) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which concerns possession of documents under the Act that are reasonably believed to have been forged.