46 Indonesians Detained In Attempt To Sneak Out Of Malaysia

JOHOR BAHRU (Johor, Malaysia), Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Forty-six illegal immigrants were detained for attempting to sneak out of the country in three raids conducted in a forest area in Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi district of Malaysia's southern state Johor, on Tuesday. Region 2 Marine Operations Force (MOF) commander ACP Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said also detained was a 42-year-old Indonesian, who is believed to be the master-mind. He said the raids were conducted between 9 pm and 11.30 pm on Tuesday involving six Pengerang MOF members. The illegal immigrants, all Indonesians with the youngest aged 6 and the oldest in the 50s, comprised 40 adult men, four women and two children, he said in a statement Wednesday. He said the illegal immigrants were detained while they were waiting for a boat to return to Indonesia. All of them did not have valid personal documents and one of them was in possession of an identity card belonging to somebody else, he added. They were then taken to the Kota Tinggi and Penawar police stations for further investigation. --BERNAMA