THE Immigration Department has busted a document forgery syndicate with the arrest of a Pakistani national, believed to be the mastermind, and seized security stamps in a raid on a luxury condominium in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday.

Director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the team also found a room that was turned into a laboratory to produce fake security documents.

Among the seized items are a computer and card printing machine, stickers for temporary foreign worker working permits, local driving licences, foreign country visas and RM13,710 cash.

“The syndicate is believed to have been operating since last year,” said Khairul Dzaimee.

“It charges between RM300 and RM500 for each working permit sticker depending on the quality required by customers, comprising mostly Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals. It charges RM50 for each forged driving license.

“These illegal activities have caused a loss in revenue for the government, especially in the form of foreign worker levies of up to millions of ringgit.”

He said the 37-year-old suspect is believed to be using a valid working permit from a cleaning company to enable him to freely move to carry out the illegal activities.

“Following questioning, the suspect led the team to another condominium, rented for similar activities, in Jalan Genting Klang, where the team seized fake social visit passes and immigration stamps.

“The suspect is also found to have rented several luxury condominium units to evade the authorities,” he said, adding that the man has been detained at the Semenyih Immigration Depot for further action. – Bernama, November 16, 2021.