JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Three Singaporeans have been arrested after they verbally abused an immigration officer at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Baru.
The three - a woman in her 40s and two of her children aged 18 and 19 - were detained after they refused to lower the back window of their tinted car during inspection at the car zone heading towards Singapore at 3.30pm on Friday (Aug 12).
It is learnt that the woman, a businesswoman, started hurling abuse and accusations at the Immigration officer who wanted to inspect the vehicle.
One of them also allegedly showed the middle finger to the officer.
Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Rohaizi Bahari confirmed the arrests and said that they had been remanded for 14 days to assist in investigations.
"It is an offence to hurl abuse at my men who are just following the procedures during checks," he said.
He added that the Immigration Department had nothing to hide and even had visits from the Singapore consulate, as they wanted to meet the suspects.
"So far our investigation also showed that the officer did not ask for any bribe as alleged by the suspects," he said, urging those who were unhappy with his officers to lodge a complaint directly with him.
The three are being investigated under Section 56(1) (g) of the Immigration Act, which carries a maximum of RM10,000 (S$3,350) fine or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.
News about the arrests has been widely spread via Facebook with pictures of the family in handcuffs and personal details online.
It is learnt that the two children are studying in a private college in Johor Baru.
