MACC busts syndicate that sold revenue stamps

PUTRAJAYA: The country has lost RM15mil in revenue – no thanks to a syndicate believed to have sold government revenue stamps and work permit pass stickers (PLKS) for foreign workers at a steal.

The syndicate is said to have worked hand in glove with the staff of a security printing company, who stole these original documents from its storage facility.

Graft busters put an end to the illegal activities following a major blitz, codenamed Ops Sticker, on Wednesday and arrested seven suspected syndicate members aged between 30 and 39.

But sources with knowledge of the investigation said this was not the end of the case, which might see more arrests.

During investigation, officials found that RM250 government revenue stamps were sold for between RM40 and RM60 per piece in the black market while the RM10 stamps were priced at RM5 or RM6 each.

“The PLKS stickers, which have all the security features used by the Immigration Department, were sold by the syndicate for about RM700 or RM800 a piece.

“To have a PLKS sticker issued by the department, one is charged between RM2,000 and RM3,000 depending on the sector,” said a source.

During the raid, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators seized 2,500 pieces of government revenue stamps valued at RM12.5mil in total.

Revenue stamps are used for duty stamp payment in sales and purchase agreements and are usually purchased at post offices or from the Inland Revenue Board.

Four of the suspects were remanded on Wednesday until Feb 21 while three others were remanded for six days beginning yesterday.

Investigators believed that the syndicate had been operating for the past three years, raking in millions in profit before its activities were detected.

Confirming the arrests, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said it viewed the syndicate’s activities seriously as this had resulted in losses and leakages of government revenue.

“Intelligence and surveillance work on the syndicate was carried out for six months by our officers and the Immigration Department before we made the arrests,” he said.