KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has apprehended the proprietor and director of a company suspected of collaborating with a smuggling syndicate involved in cigarettes and alcohol.
Sources reveal that both individuals supposedly played roles in collecting mule accounts used to bribe civil servants who facilitated the release of containers containing cigarettes and alcohol without proper inspection.
They are also accused of partaking in illegal activities like online gambling and facilitating the search for forwarding agents for illicit syndicates in the country.
“As intermediaries, the suspects are believed to have paid sums between RM500 and RM1,000 to people who could provide identification documents to register as fake company owners,” the sources stated.
The Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court granted MACC’s request to detain both suspects for three days until March 28.
During Operation Samba 2.0, the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Division took 14 more individuals into custody on Monday, including 12 public servants and the two suspects while they were giving statements at the MACC Headquarters.
“The 12 public servants were released after providing their statements, while the two suspects were detained to aid in further investigation,” a spokesperson mentioned.
Prior to this, a joint special operation involving the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and Bank Negara detained 34 public servants and nine civilians believed to be linked to the syndicate between 2018 and 2023.
The syndicate was also suspected of engaging in money laundering through the use of ‘ghost companies’ business accounts and money changers.
AML director Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin confirmed the remand order for the two suspects and stated that the case was being probed under Section 17 (b) of the MACC Act 2009. – Bernama
