©The Sun (Used by permission)
by PAULINE WONG
PUTRAJAYA: Eight Immigration Department officers held in connection with human trafficking activities last year are to be released.
“I have decided to release the officers who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after finding that the detainees showed remorse over the mistakes they have made,” said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, adding that three will be freed today and the rest in the near future.
He had on Sunday hinted at freeing them, saying the ministry was considering their release “as they may have repented and want to be with their families during the Ramadan”.
The officers were arrested between Oct 10 and 12 last year on suspicion of being involved in a human trafficking syndicate. Following their arrests, Hishammuddin had said they would be detained under the ISA until they can be charged in court.
Yesterday, the minister said in a statement that while the eight were detained to protect the nation’s safety and stability, the officers had now “promised never to do it again in the future”.
He said that they had also given full cooperation to the police to fight human trafficking.
“I wish to remind officers entrusted with protecting the country’s entry points to be diligent in their duty,” he said, adding that they should not jeopardise national security for the sake of monetary wealth.