Immigration officer allowed in I.S. militants
Immigration officer allegedly allowed three militants into country
THE woman allegedly took bribes from the militants and other foreigners who sought to enter Sabah with either counterfeit or no documents. She was among 7 people arrested for possible ties with IS.
AS an Immigration officer, she was responsible in ensuring no subversive elements entered or left the country.
However, the 31-year-old’s lust for money proved more powerful than her sense of duty.
She is believed to have allowed illegal immigrants, including three Islamic State (IS) militants, entered into the country via the Sandakan Airport in Sabah.
Sources said these militants, entered Sabah to join terrorists in the Philippines.
“The suspect had been receiving bribes to facilitate the entry of illegals into Malaysia.
“Those who did not have valid travel documents would go to the counter she was manning.
“For a sum of money, she would allow them entry even if they were using fake documents, or did not possess any travel document,” said the sources.
However, the sources declined to reveal how much she charged for each person and how long she had been doing it, saying that investigations were ongoing.
It is learnt that police were investigating whether she had any ties to IS.
The Immigration officer was among seven people detained between March 8 and Sunday for possible ties to IS.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said two other suspects — a Filipino woman, 53, and a Filipino man, 40 — were nabbed in Sandakan on March 9.
He said the female suspect was a permanent resident (PR) status holder and sold ferry tickets for a living, while the man was a labourer.
The duo, he said, were picked up for allegedly facilitating the travel of three Indonesian IS members to the Philippines through Sabah, the same three whom the Immigration officer was alleged to have helped.
Khalid said two Filipino men, aged 18 and 27, were arrested in Kota Kinabalu on March 8, adding that the older man held PR status.
“The permanent resident is suspected to be active in gathering funds for two Malaysian IS members in the southern Philippines, Dr Mahmud Ahmad and Mohamad Joraimee Awang Raimee.
“The other Filipino was identified as an IS member, who had pledged allegiance to Isnilon Hapilon, a known Abu Sayyaf group senior leader in Basilan and chief of the IS cell in the southern Philippines.”
It is learnt that police were trying to determine if the 18-yearold had any links to kidnap-forransom activities in Sabah waters, one of the main sources of income for Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
Khalid said a 36-year-old car mechanic, also a Filipino, was nabbed in Sandakan on March 9 for making plans to join IS in Syria.
“The last suspect, a Malaysian, 36, was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday.
“The suspect, who was a medical assistant at Jerantut Hospital in Pahang, had left Malaysia for Istanbul in October.
“He planned to join IS terrorists in Syria with the help of Indonesian IS member Abu Fateh, but failed when he and several Indonesians were nabbed by Turkish authorities.”
The 36-year-old was detained following his deportation from Turkey.
Khalid said all the suspects were detained on suspicion of committing offences under Chapter VI A of the Penal Code, and were being investigated according to procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
Page 1 pic: The Immigration officer being taken away by a police officer.