20 Immigration officers suspended pending probe

20 Immigration officers suspended pending probe

Tuesday August 3, 2010

PUTRAJAYA: Twenty Immigration officers in charge of the detention centre at the KL International Airport during the escape of 20 Afghans on Sunday have been suspended pending an investigation.

Both Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein have also warned of harsh action if investigations show it was an inside job or the work of syndicates, including a “change” in the Home Ministry secretary-general and Immigration director-general.

Muhyiddin said a committee had been formed to investigate the incident, adding that it was clear “something was wrong” at the facility as this was the second time illegal immigrants had escaped from the depot.

“We do not want a similar incident to occur again. The committee will investigate if it was the work of a syndicate or someone on the inside,” he told reporters after chairing a Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Foreigners meeting here yesterday.

The Afghans, who were being held as victims of human trafficking rings, fled at about 3am on Sunday after cutting security grilles to open two gates at the depot.

On March 27, 12 Afghans and four Myanmar nationals had also escaped from the depot using the same method.

In voicing his dissatisfaction, Hishammuddin said it would be meaningless to come up with a good system to manage foreigners if officers failed to carry out their duties with a high level of integrity and commitment.

“I want everyone to be responsible from the director-general down. Any weakness should be reported to me.

“Enough is enough and if the officers do not change or the system is not implemented properly, then I will have to change the (Home Ministry) secretary-general and the (Immigration Department) director-general,” he said.

Hishammuddin added that he viewed human trafficking seriously as this could be linked to drug trafficking and terrorism activities.

“One case may be a due to a mistake and we can forgive it. We can put the second time down to negligence but I can’t accept excuses like that there were too many detainees at the depot. I want serious action,” he said, warning that any officer found involved would face criminal prosecution.

Immigration director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said all officers in charge during the first escape on March 27 had already been transferred out.

“The 20 officers working last Sunday will be suspended while investigations are under way.

“The department is also investigating if they had followed all the security procedures,” he said, adding that the Afghans were handed over to the department in February for deportation after being arrested by the police.

Abdul Rahman said these illegals were “determined to reach the country of their destination at all costs”.