KUCHING: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen 375 accounts totalling over RM560mil in its latest strike against illegal logging and timber corruption in Sarawak.
The MACC also seized more than 500 logs during a joint operation to clamp down on illegal timber activities.
Under Ops Gergaji, some 400 personnel from MACC, police, state Forestry Department and Inland Revenue Board raided 48 log ponds, sawmills and business premises across the state on Tuesday.
The raids were carried out simultaneously at 13 locations in Miri, 12 in Kuching and Sibu, six in Bintulu, three in Bakun and two in Kapit.
"We carried out the raids based on detailed investigations and intelligence obtained by MACC and the agencies involved," investigation division director Datuk Mohamad Jamidan Abdullah said in a statement.
He said further investigations would be carried out under Section 17(a) and 17(b) of the MACC Act as well as Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
"The joint operation shows the commitment of the Federal and state governments to combat corruption in the timber sector and curb illegal logging activities in Sarawak.
"Such activities are believed to have cost billions of Ringgit in losses to the Federal and state governments," he added.
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