KUALA LUMPUR – Two immigration staffers and four employees of a company supplying computer systems to the department were arrested yesterday by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in connection with the hacking of the MyIMMS system.
Harian Metro reported that the arrested, aged between 34 and 42, are believed to be responsible for installing devices and software for the purpose of hacking into the system at the Immigration Department.
The arrest of the four company employees led authorities to the discovery of several computers in the department equipped with the software required for hacking.
The two immigration staffers who were arrested are believed to have conspired with the syndicate.
A source was quoted as saying that all those arrested are believed to have received bribes to abet the syndicate.
“As a result, some hardware and computers at the department were seized.
“Also seized were laptops and hard drives belonging to employees of the company that were used to hack the immigration system.”
It was also reported that MACC has identified four “famous” hotels here that were used as the syndicate’s base of operations.
“The arrests are a follow-up to the MACC-Immigration Department joint operation that was carried out last Tuesday, where authorities raided 22 locations in Kuala Lumpur and Sg Petani in Kedah.”
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed the arrest and was quoted as saying: “We see the issue of hacking this system as a very serious act in the aspect of national security.”
On April 6, five individuals, including the mastermind with a Datukship, were arrested by the MACC and Immigration Department for allegedly providing fake temporary employment permits.
The syndicate also allegedly hacked into the Immigration Department database. The racket was busted after a year of surveillance and intelligence work by the MACC and Immigration Department.
It is believed that the syndicate printed hundreds of thousands of fake permits to be sold for between RM6,000 and RM8,000 each.
A source was reported as saying that the database was hacked by wiring transmitters in the department’s computer room, enabling them to change the passwords of officers before printing the work passes from a remote location.
MACC had seized computers and assorted items during a raid on a hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail, and the syndicate used several luxury hotels to carry out their operations. – The Vibes, April 9, 2021
