Police officer under bribery probe over illegal logging

KUALA LUMPUR: Ten suspects, including a police officer, were hauled up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in connection with illegal logging in Sarawak.

MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said the suspects, aged between 28 and 72, were arrested in a joint operation by the MACC, police, marine police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), Sarawak Forestry Department and General Operations Force (PGA) in several locations.

"The 10 were arrested in Limbang, Sibu, Kuching, Miri and Kapit following the operation that started on Monday.

"Aside of the policeman, the remaining suspects comprised general-managers, owners, camp managers and shareholders from 10 local logging companies.

"The nine were suspected of bribing the police officer," he told reporters at the KL MACC headquarters in Jalan Cochrane Thursday.

Shukri added that the police officer, attached with one of the district headquarters as the CID chief, was suspected of accepting RM16,000 in three transactions.

"In the span of nine months (since January until September this year), the Sarawak government has lost about RM43mil to illegal logging.

"The amount of graft offered may not be big but it leaves a huge impact of the country's economic growth," he said.

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