ANN/THE STAR – Graft investigators apprehended three company owners, two of whom hold the title Datuk, under suspicion of offering bribes to civil servants to evade action against smuggling activities involving tobacco and cigarettes.
The arrests were made when the individuals were summoned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters for questioning. According to a source, the suspects allegedly paid bribes to certain civil servants from 2018 until last year.
The arrests followed a joint operation involving the MACC, the Inland Revenue Board, and Bank Negara that commenced last Monday.
The suspects were remanded, with one held for three days and the two Datuks for one day, as approved by Magistrate Khairunnisa Kasa upon MACC’s request.
MACC’s anti-money laundering division chief Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zaindul Abidin confirmed the arrests.
Earlier in the week, eight individuals, including five civil servants, were remanded in connection with the case, which reportedly led to an estimated MYR400 million tax revenue loss.
Seized during the operation were various items totaling nearly MYR6 million, including electronics, cash, property, and vehicles. Additionally, MACC froze 237 bank accounts containing MYR12 million.
