‘Immigration officer’ held

Suspect sold fake papers and visitor passes for five years in uniform

Suspect in dept uniform sold bogus papers and visitor passes, and no one knew for five years.

PUTRAJAYA: The name is Tay, James Tay. “Senior Immigration officer.”

For about five years, the 45-yearold used this ruse to sell fake documents, including visitor passes, to unknowing victims.

His cheating spree came to an end when Immigration Department officers caught him in the act in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, on Wednesday.

“When our officers caught him, he was wearing an Immigration Department uniform with the badge of a senior director.

“The officers also found a bag in his car which had Immigration Department authority cards and special passes, believed to be fake,” Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali told reporters here.

The man then led the officers to his house in Puchong Jaya, where they found nine Immigration Department uniforms, an assortment of uniform accessories, as well as more authority cards and passes.

“The suspect would convince his victims that he could get them Immigration Visitor Passes for temporary employment and would charge them from RM3,000 to RM5,000,” said Mustafar.

He added that “James Tay” is a fake name and the suspect also used Facebook and Instagram to promote his “services”.

“We are still trying to determine how many people he has duped, and whether or not he is part of a syndicate,” Mustafar said.

Tay’s victims only realised the documents were forgeries when they were caught by Immigration officers.

Mustafar said those who have obtained documents from Tay should come forward immediately.

“They should know that documents obtained from this man are fakes, and they must come to us. Do not wait to get caught by our officers for having fake documents,” he added.

Mustafar said Immigration documents could only be obtained at its offices or through its official online portal.

“If a transaction is done at dodgy locations, such as in a car or at a coffee shop, you can be sure it is not legitimate,” he said.

The suspect has been arrested under Section 12(1)(f ) of the Passport Act 1966.