Diesel smuggling syndicate: MACC freezes RM36 million in bank accounts

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen a total of RM36 million in bank accounts belonging to a gas station operator and two enforcement officers in its investigation into a subsidised diesel smuggling syndicate in Sibu, Sarawak.

According to sources, the action was taken following an operation, "Op Liter", conducted in Sibu last Sunday, which targeted a syndicate involved in misappropriating diesel meant for fishermen's associations and alleged malpractices by enforcement personnel.

"This followed the arrest of two siblings, who are gas station operators, as well as an enforcement assistant and a director of an enforcement agency in Kuching, Sarawak.

"The two brothers, who were remanded for four days, have been released on bail today," the source told Bernama.

Meanwhile, MACC senior director (Special Operations Division), Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman, when contacted, confirmed the freezing of the accounts involving the amount and stated that the case was being investigated under Section 16(b)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.

Last Tuesday, a director of an enforcement agency in Kuching, Sarawak, was arrested on suspicion of receiving bribes from a subsidised diesel smuggling syndicate.

The male suspect, in his 40s, was detained at the Sarawak MACC office at 6:20 pm and is on remand until September 2.

The arrest followed a raid conducted by the MACC's Special Operations Division during "Op Liter" at an oil storage depot in Sungai Bidut, Sibu, last Sunday.

During the raid, the MACC seized 1.6 million litres of diesel and cash amounting to RM3.7 million.

The subsidised diesel smuggling syndicate is believed active since 2012.

-- BERNAMA

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