KANGAR, May 9 (Bernama) -- A local agent and nine illegal immigrants from Myanmar were detained by an Anti-Smuggling Unit team after the car carrying them got caught in the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (HTF) compound, here, early Monday.
Perlis commander of the unit, Deputy Supt Zakaria Abdul Rahman, said the local man in his 30s drove the Proton Wira carrying the illegals into the hospital's compound at about 4am after realising they were being followed by the unit's patrol car.
However, their vehicle failed to find its way out through the rear gate of the hospital which was closed, and the agent tried to run away but was injured after falling into a drain.
He was arrested and taken to the hospital to receive 16 stitches for his injury, and three of the illegals were nabbed while trying to escape by climbing over the fence.
Six other illegals who remained in the car were also arrested.
Zakaria said the illegals between 16 and 21, including a female, were earlier packed into the car with the rear seat removed after they were picked up from Padang Besar and travelling for two hours to the south.
He said they were believed to have squeezed through the "rat hole" of the Malaysia-Thai border fencing near a Chinese cemetery.
"The agent is believed to be paid RM60 for each illegal immigrant to be brought to Penang," he added.
All the illegals were handed over to the Immigration Department for further action.
-- BERNAMA
