5 suspects in immigration hacking case to face 113 charges in court

Five suspects believed to have been involved in a syndicate that hacked the immigration department’s MyIMMS system and printed out temporary employment visit passes (PLKS) will be slapped with 113 charges in court involving a total of RM26.65 million.

According to a source, the suspects aged 35 to 47 will be charged at six courts in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu and Melaka.

The source said the charges would involve assets obtained through illegal funds from syndicate activities including cash, luxury watches, cars, land and houses.

“A total of 113 charges involving RM26.65 million have been proposed against all of the syndicate members under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001,” the source told MalaysiaNow.

The charges will be made throughout the month of March.

According to the source, the arrest of the syndicate members began on April 6 last year through an operation known as Ops Hack, carried out together with the immigration department.

The source said the detained syndicate members included immigration officers and the staff of vendors who were involved in the MyIMMS system.

“Five investigation papers have been opened to look into the assets of the members believed to have been obtained through the gains made thorugh the illegal printing of PLKS.”

Six people were arrested in April last year on suspicion of installing devices and software for the purpose of hacking the MyIMMS system.

They included two technicians from the company supplying the system.

The staff found to have conspired with the syndicate were believed to have received bribes.

Authorities also seized several computers belonging to the immigration department that had been fitted with hacking devices and software.

This followed the arrest of five others: the syndicate leader who had a “Datuk” title, and four members including a former immigration officer.

A total of 147 accounts owned by 30 individual and 11 companies amounting to RM9.9 million were frozen, while an estimated 30 pieces of property amounting to RM11.9 million and 66 vehicles valued at RM13.7 million were also seized.