Ex-immigration director freed on MACC bail
PUTRAJAYA: The former Immigration Department director who was implicated in a social visit pass corruption scandal has been released from a seven-day remand.
Magistrate Khir Nizam Jemari allowed the 47-year-old with the title Datuk, together with a 46-year-old department driver, to be released on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) bail.
Another suspect, a 56-year-old department clerk, would remain under MACC’s custody for another two days after the court allowed his remand to be extended.
The three are being investigated over a corruption case of millions of ringgit involving the approval of social visit passes.
Sources said the three suspects had alleged- ly accepted bribes from agents who handled social visit passes in return for approving applications between 2015 and 2016.
The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act, which relates to bribery and receiving gratification.
Apparently, the Datuk was formerly the director of the visa, pass and permit division of the Immigration Department.
He was arrested at the MACC headquarters here on Oct 31 after he was summoned to have his statement recorded by investigators.
The other two suspects were both arrested at their own homes on the same day.
They were brought to the magistrate’s court here the following day and were given a seven-day remand order.