Over 60 foreigners arrested in Johor for immigration offences, two for pretending to be beggars in night market

JOHOR BARU: The Johor Immigration Department has arrested over 60 foreigners, including four who have been pretending to be beggars in a night market, in a series of operations earlier this week.

Its director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the suspects were arrested in separate operations conducted around Johor Baru and Batu Pahat between Oct 28 and 29.

“In one of the operations, we have arrested four men from Cambodia and Thailand who have been pretending to be beggars in a night market in Gelang Patah.

“The suspects, which include a man with an amputated leg, were believed to have been gaining public sympathy by pretending to collect money for Tahfiz schools and other religious institutions.

“The strategic location used for their operation and Malaysian generosity had allowed them to make up to RM400 a day or RM12,000 a month,” he said in a statement here.

He said that the suspects were believed to have been conducting the activity for the last three months.

“In the same operation, we have also inspected stalls operating at the night market and arrested a Pakistani man for not having a valid pass or permit to be in Malaysia,” he said.

Mohd Rusdi said that the department had also arrested a total of 51 foreigners for various immigration offences in two other operations around Johor Baru.

“We have also conducted a joint operation with the Iskandar Puteri City Council and Johor Health Department around the Iskandar Puteri area, where seven business premises were inspected.

“A total of 72 people were checked during the operation, and 33 were arrested for immigration offences,” he said.

He added that the 18 other foreign workers were arrested following checks on two factories around Taman Mewah here.

Meanwhile, in Batu Pahat, Mohd Rusdi said that the department had also arrested ten foreigners and two local business owners in another operation involving 12 premises.

“The operation was conducted following complaints we received from the public about foreigners working illegally.

“We checked 38 people during the operation and arrested ten foreigners for overstaying and being in Malaysia without valid travel documents.

“Two locals were also arrested for protecting illegal immigrants,” he said, adding that the duo is being investigated under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act for the offence.

He said that the foreigners arrested in the four operations, who were between 21 and 56 years old, were from Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Cambodia and Pakistan.

They are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having a valid pass or permit to be in Malaysia, Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying and Rule 11(7)(a) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for violating social visit pass requirements.