Malaysia\u2019s visa-exemption policy being exploited by global scam\nrings, says police chief after US$14.7m raids<\/p>\n
Malaysian police are working closely with the Immigration Department\nand other enforcement agencies to monitor the entry of foreigners and\ntourists, says Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail.<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR: Transnational scam syndicates are exploiting Malaysia\u2019s\nvisa-exemption policy to operate in the country, said Malaysia\u2019s police\nchief Mohd Khalid Ismail as he announced the arrest of 187 suspects and\nasset seizure of nearly RM58 million (US$14.7 million) in a dragnet on\nMay 6 and 7.<\/p>\n
Malaysian police are working closely with the Immigration Department\nand other enforcement agencies to monitor the entry of foreigners and\ntourists, he said on Friday (May 15) at a press conference at the Royal\nMalaysia Police headquarters, adding that the visa policy \u201cmakes it\neasier for foreign criminals to operate in the country\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestigations are also ongoing into how the suspects entered the\ncountry, including whether through social visit passes or other means,\u201d\nhe said, as reported by news outlet Malay Mail.<\/p>\n
Initial checks showed that all foreign suspects detained possessed\nvalid travel documents, Mohd Khalid said.<\/p>\n
His remarks follow a top Indonesian official saying this week that\nIndonesia will review its visa-free entry policy for nationals of\nSoutheast Asian countries after the arrest of over 500 foreigners\naccused of running illegal gambling and scam operations.<\/p>\n
Those arrested were nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos\nand Myanmar \u2013which all enjoy 30-day visa-free stays in Indonesia \u2013 as\nwell as China, which is not included in Indonesia\u2019s waiver scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cCases of foreigners involved in illegal activities, including those\ncoming from countries granted visa-free entry facilities, give rise to\n(a need for) evaluation\u201d of policies, Indonesian immigration boss\nHendarsam Marantoko told AFP on May 13.<\/p>\n
SCAM SUSPECTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES<\/p>\n
In Malaysia, the 187 suspects arrested in Klang Valley on May 6 and 7\nare from nine countries.<\/p>\n
They include 127 Chinese nationals, 23 Malaysians, nine Japanese,\neight Vietnamese and seven Indonesians, local news outlets reported. The\nothers were from Laos, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar. They\ncomprise 151 men and 36 women.<\/p>\n
According to Malaysia\u2019s Immigration Department website, a visa is not\nrequired for a stay of less than one month for Association of Southeast\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) nationals except Myanmar.<\/p>\n
Last April, it was announced travellers from Malaysia and China would\nenjoy five more years of visa-free travel when visiting each other\u2019s\ncountries, thanks to a new mutual visa exemption agreed during Chinese\nPresident Xi Jinping\u2019s state visit to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe visa exemption allows Chinese tourists to stay in Malaysia for\nup to 90 days, and China has offered a similar arrangement for\nMalaysians,\u201d Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Apr\n22 last year.<\/p>\n
Japan citizens also do not need a visa to enter Malaysia for social\nvisits not exceeding 90 days, according to Malaysia\u2019s Foreign Ministry\nwebsite.<\/p>\n
LUXURY PROPERTIES, VEHICLES SEIZED<\/p>\n
In the dragnet, Malaysian police seized three luxury properties worth\nRM38 million, 20 luxury vehicles valued at RM6.58million, luxury goods\nestimated at RM12 million and 556 digital devices, Mohd Khalid told the\nmedia.<\/p>\n
The syndicates ran investment scams, phone and love scams as well as\nonline gambling activities, he said. Some impersonated Japanese police\nofficers through applications such as Telegram, Line and Bria\nMobile.<\/p>\n
Preliminary investigations show their victims were from Hong Kong,\nChina, South Korea and Japan, Malay Mail reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestigations are ongoing to identify the masterminds, financial\nstructures and international criminal links behind these syndicates,\u201d\nMohd Khalid said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysias-visa-exemption-policy-being-exploited-by-global-scam-rings-says-police-chief-after-us-14-7m-raids-1780933815", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }