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Op Samba: MACC nabs 15 civil servants in RM2 mil bribery bust | Scoop
Initial investigations reveal that all suspects are believed to have been involved in the illegal activity between 2017 and 2023. – Scoop pic, March 19, 2024
News

Op Samba: MACC nabs 15 civil servants in RM2 mil bribery bust

Suspects accused of accepting bribes from syndicate engaged in smuggling tobacco, cigarettes, liquour through country's entry points

Scoop Reporters
Updated
10:55 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained 15 more civil servants on suspicion of accepting bribes exceeding RM2 million from a syndicate involved in the illegal smuggling of tobacco, cigarettes, and liquor through the country’s entry points.

The arrests were made by the MACC’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) unit following Operation Samba 2.0, which was carried out in collaboration with the Inland Revenue Board and the Central Bank of Malaysia beginning last Monday.

Sources revealed that all of the male suspects, aged between 30 and 50, were apprehended around 2pm at the MACC headquarters while giving statements.

“Initial investigations found that all suspects are believed to have been involved in the activity between 2017 and 2023.

“All the detained suspects are alleged to have received bribes totaling over RM2 million from the syndicate to facilitate the smuggling of chewing tobacco, cigarettes, liquor, and various other goods,” said an MACC source.

Following the arrests, the MACC unit seized mobile phones and froze all suspects’ bank accounts.

Previously, the MACC unit had successfully arrested and remanded 11 individuals, including five civil servants.

The syndicate’s modus operandi includes utilising forwarding agents as intermediaries for payments to enforcement officers to smooth the smuggling process of liquor, cigarettes, tobacco, and other goods without declaration and the necessary inspections.

The syndicate is also believed to use dummy accounts for bribery transactions with complicit civil servants.

Furthermore, the syndicate was discovered to be involved in money laundering by passing money through shell companies, business accounts, money changers, and licenced money lenders.

Meanwhile, MACC’s AML unit director, Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin, confirmed the detention of the 15 suspects and said that the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.

He added that all suspects will be brought for remand application at the Putrajaya magistrates’ court tomorrow. 

On Sunday, the MACC seized eight luxury vehicles, estimated to be worth almost RM6 million, belonging to an individual believed to be involved in tobacco, alcohol and cigarette smuggling syndicates.

The commission said the vehicles in question, according to a source, consisted of two Lamborghinis, one Lexus, one Mercedes-Benz, one BMW, one Volvo and two Toyotas. – March 19, 2024

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