14 held over ‘E-Kad’ scam
PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department has crippled a fake E-Kad syndicate in Sabah, run by a 60-year-old man who claimed to be a “Datuk Seri” in an operation in Kota Kinabalu on Monday.
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the 12-hour operation which began at noon led to the arrest of 14 people, including three Filipinos, and the seizure of 60 items.
“This ‘Datuk Seri’ hid his activities behind a private company in Kota Kinabalu,” he said in a statement.
Illegal immigrants were charged between RM1,100 and RM1,200 per card, which supposedly allows them to reside in Sabah as a registered foreign worker.
Mustafar said the registration was done by a company headed by the ‘Datuk Seri’ while the printing and distribution were done by appointed agents in Kuala Lumpur.
“The Immigration Department reiterates that there is no such EKad programme in Sabah. We never appointed any party or individual to implement it.”
Those arrested were taken to Kota Kinabalu Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation.
On Monday, the state Immigration Department also clarified that there is no E-Kad registration program for illegal immigrants in Sabah.
The department also stressed that it has not appointed or is working with any companies or individuals to carry out the E-Kad program in Sabah.
“We urge the public to report to the nearest Immigration Department should they come across any companies or individuals who are doing the registration for the EKad,” the department said.
It was learnt that there is a company in Tawau offering its services to illegal immigrants who wish to register for the EKad.