Can Malaysian immigration make people pay taxes on a check that was carried in a wallet?

Question

A friend was getting ready to board the flight, when he was stopped by immigration. After they searched him, they found a bank draft and told him he had to pay taxes for the check before he could leave the country. They took his passport and refused to give back the check until he came up with American dollars. Now, he is stuck there, with little money desperately trying to find help. Is this normal in that country? Is there anyone that could help?

Answer 1

I don't think your friend is giving you the whole story. No western power's Embassy would tell a citizen such a thing unless there was something else going on.

The bank draft is basically cash. Any bank can cash it. There is more to this than you have told us, and probably more than you have been told. The authorities could just escort him to a bank, let him cash in the draft, and take their tax out right there. No need to jail him.

Do not send cash to your "friend".

Answer 2

yes there  r currency controls in malaysia.  he must definitely be carrying a huge sum of $$.  they mut hv been tipped off.  no immigration officer wld go round looking for a cheque!  he must be involved in some $$laundering scheme or taking $$ out for some corrupted politician or biznessman.  whoever gave him the cheque / cashier's order shld bail him out

Answer 3

If your friend is not Malaysian, he needs to be in contact with his own embassy in Malaysia. Is he?