MACC warns that they are flooding the State: Visa scam Pakistanis in court
Published on: Friday, February 27, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Anti-graft officers on Thursday brought four Pakistanis before the court following weeks of investigations into the fraudulent issuance of visas and social visit passes to allow them to stay in the State.More are expected to face charges here, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau in the coming days and the prosecution said judicial notice should be made by the court regarding Pakistanis flooding the State.It was the culmination of a protracted corruption investigation which also saw several immigration officers being detained for their involvement and believed to have been raking millions of ringgit.
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The four Pakistanis were accused in the Sessions Court here of having obtained these documents through a syndicate, using the particulars of women to whom they were not actually married, in their application forms.They were charged with using these documents as genuine when they knew the particulars were fake.Two of them, Sartaj Khan, and Sohrab Khan Habib Khan, both 22, pleaded guilty to the charge while the other two, Shamsul Alam Habib Rasool, 30, and Afzal Khan Mirasan Khan, 25, claimed trial.Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Prosecuting Officer Awang Samsul Baharam Bungso, who was assisted by Michael Joimin, pressed for a deterrent sentence.
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"The arrest of Pakistanis in the State by the MACC followed corruption investigations on some immigration officers in Lahad Datu," said Awang Samsul."During the preliminary investigation, MACC found that the Pakistanis were supposedly guaranteed by their wives but upon further investigation it was established these women were not their actual wives.
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"The using of passports containing fake details on Multiple Entry Visas by the Pakistanis is very serious because it involves the Immigration Department being the main gateway to the country."Even though they admitted to the charge which saved the court's time and that of other parties the interest of the country should be given priority besides a warning to other Pakistanis or other citizens against committing the same offence by manipulating the legal system of our country."Therefore the prosecution asks for both a fine and jail sentence to be imposed on Sartaj and Sohrab," Awang Samsul said.Judge Dato Ishak Bakri sentenced Sartaj and Sohrab to three months' jail and ordered them to pay RM10,000 or spend another a month in prison each.Sartaj and Sohrab had used the Multiple Entry Visas issued by the Lahad Datu Immigration Department when they knew that the details on the documents were fake.On Sartaj's visa, the false information was in regard to his so-called wife, one Rusilin Abu, and he was found using the document at 7.30pm on Feb 5, 2015 at Kg Likas, here.The offence under Section 471 of the Penal Code punishable under Section 465 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to two years or fine, or both, on conviction.On Sohrab's visa it was falsely stated that his wife's name was Arnidar Pasojai and he was found using the document at the Kedai Runcit Wasim in Inanam Point 2, Jalan Tuaran Inanam, here on Sept 3, 2014.In handing down the sentence Ishak said that he considered the offence committed by both Sartaj and Sohrab as serious as they knew the details on their visas were fake.He ordered them to serve the jail sentence from Thursday and referred them to the Immigration Department after completing their jail sentence.Sartaj who was not represented asked for only a fine to be imposed on him saying his wife is currently six month's pregnant and that no one will look after her.He also told the court that he had just paid a fine of RM12,000 imposed on him for an immigration offence by the Immigration Court on Feb 24 this year at the Temporary Detention Centre in Papar.Sohrab who told the court that he understood a little Bahasa Malaysia said he had been detained in the centre for six months and wanted the court to deport him to his country as soon as possible.He claimed he had paid RM4,250 to an immigration personnel who told him that he could work temporarily in a sundry shop and that his employer should pay the said amount.The court was informed by the prosecution that Sohrab was detained in the centre while awaiting deportation after he was charged with an immigration offence in the Sessions Court on Jan 23, 2013. Meanwhile, Ishak fixed March 17 for case management for Afzal and Shamsul and ordered them remanded further pending the date.Afzal is accused of using the Multiple Entry Visa which was issued by the Lahad Datu Immigration Department with false details in relation to his wife one Sharwaty Samporang who he was actually not married to.He was allegedly found using the document at the centre in Papar on Feb 4 this year.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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