A company owner with the title Datuk is among three people arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over suspected bribes totalling about RM1 million paid to police personnel to protect an illegal cigarette smuggling operation.
The payments were allegedly made to prevent enforcement action against the smuggling activities operating across the East Coast and Klang Valley.
The other two suspects are a tuition teacher and a marketing officer, aged between their 30s and 50s.
All three were arrested at about 4pm on Sunday at separate locations in Putrajaya, Selangor and Johor.
Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah ordered the suspects to be remanded for four days, from Monday until Thursday, following an application by the MACC at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court on Nov 2.
Preliminary investigations found that the suspects allegedly worked together in the scheme from 2020 until now, acting as intermediaries to channel bribe money to several lower-ranking police personnel and officers from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
Following the arrests, the MACC’s Intelligence Division, in collaboration with the police, conducted inspections at several locations, including the suspects’ offices and homes.
The operation resulted in the seizure of four luxury vehicles estimated to be worth about RM600,000, along with four mobile phones and a laptop.
The commission also froze 20 personal bank accounts and nine company accounts, involving a combined value of approximately RM1.5 million.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.
