Cops Arrest Another Suspect In Customs Scandal

PETALING JAYA: Another individual has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) in their ongoing investigations into the billion ringgit smuggling syndicate dealing with cigarettes and liquor.

MACC director of investigations Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah said the suspect, 39, was picked up from a hotel in Bandar Utama yesterday.

“He was arrested in connection with the involvement of Customs officers who have been taking bribes from the syndicate that has been smuggling contraband in by not declaring excise duty,” he said in a statement.

Mohd Jamidan said the individual’s arrest had brought the total number of suspects to 31 since the crackdown was launched on September 3.

MACC had obtained a seven-day remand order on the suspect from the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court yesterday morning.

“We hope he will facilitate investigations by cooperating with us.”

To date, 28 customs officers including — two state directors — have been arrested, 14 of them have been charged with multiple counts of accepting bribes.

MACC had conducted surveillance at Port Klang’s duty free zone for more than a year before deciding to swoop in.

Those detained abused the facilities at the duty free zone and the enforcement officers had protected the smugglers.

The smuggled items were being sold in the country as well as in neighbouring countries.

MACC had said that they were expecting to arrest more Customs officer as investigations were still ongoing. - MalayMail