KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Immigration officers have arrested an Iranian national for entering the state using a Spanish passport.
The arrest was made at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1 at 7.30pm on Friday, December 14, said Sabah Immigration director Datuk Mohammad Mohammad.
“The 29-year-old man was arrested after an Immigration officer noticed the man did not resemble the picture shown in the passport.
“Further investigation revealed the man is actually an Iranian national but was using a Spanish passport, believed to make it easier for him to enter another country after transiting here in Sabah,” he told a press conference at Wisma Dang Bandang here yesterday.
The Iranian man was believed to have arrived at the KKIA Terminal 1 at 7pm on December 14 from Brunei Darussalam and had expected to stay in Sabah for two days before proceeding to his next destination.
Mohammad said while being questioned by Immigration officers, the man vehemently claimed that he was from Spain but after further inspection, officers found an Iranian passport inside his luggage.
“The man then admitted to having obtained the passport from another country for a payment of USD4,000.
“Closer scrutiny indicates the passport is genuine but only the personal information has been forged while the passport picture looks very similar to the holder,” said Mentek, adding that the case would be investigated under Section 12 (1) (b) of the Passport Act 1966 for impersonating other people’s passports.
A provision of the Act carries a fine of up to RM10,000 or five years’ jail, or both, if found guilty.
Meanwhile, Mohammad disclosed that the Immigration Department had detained 51 people at the KKIA Terminal 1 and 2 for numerous Immigration offences since January until December 17.
From the total, 22 people were held for using fake identity card or identity card that belongs to another person, using fake stamp chop (21), overstaying (six) and using another person’s passport (two).
“We will continue to tighten security at airport and to detect those who are found guilty under the Customs Act 1959/63,” said Mohammad.
Source: sabah & sarawak news
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