Facing the law: The MACC arrested eight individuals during a special operation on Monday.
PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators have arrested four civil servants for accepting bribes from a tobacco, cigarette and liquor smuggling syndicate, whose activities for the past six years are believed to have caused tax revenue losses estimated at RM400mil.
The four suspects were believed to have received more than RM5mil from this syndicate, which they had been working with from 2018 until last year.
Sources said investigators are tracking down another public officer who is believed to be part of the group that allowed goods to be brought in illegally.
It is learnt that a special operation was mounted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) anti-money laundering division, the Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara to round up the suspects.
“The MACC arrested eight individuals, including the four suspects, during the special operation on Monday.
“The arrests were made at various locations in the Klang Valley,” one source said.
“From initial calculations, it is believed that the activities of the syndicate, with the help of the suspects, had caused RM400mil in tax revenue losses.
“Investigators also believe that bribe money of more than RM8mil had been paid to several individuals, including civil servants, to enable the goods to be smuggled into the country.”
In a follow-up to the operation, the MACC’s anti-money laundering division froze 237 bank accounts involving RM12mil.
It also seized several handphones, laptops, desktop computers, cash, house and cars with a total value of almost RM6mil.
“Investigators believe the syndicate uses mule accounts for its payment transactions to the civil servants who are in cahoots with them.
“The syndicate was also found to have carried out money-laundering activities using ‘ghost company’ accounts through licensed moneylenders and moneychangers,” said the source.
The four suspects have been remanded for four days until March 15 after MACC’s application was allowed by Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests.
He said the commission will apply for a remand order for several more suspects in the coming days.
