KUALA LUMPUR:THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 24 people from five enforcement agencies in Penang for graft under Op Belot.
They were detained for allegedly accepting bribes from syndicates selling pirated CDs and DVDs.
Sources said the recent arrests were made under Op Belot, aimed at enforcement officers who allow syndicates to operate under their watch.
The source said the enforcement officers were from the police, Royal Customs Department, National Film Development Corporation (Finas), and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.
“Their modus operandi was for these officers to carry out inspections at premises selling CDs and DVDs in Penang. If the operators are caught red-handed selling pirated items, they will ask them to pay them monthly protection money.
“This to ensure no action will be taken against the operators and their businesses will be protected from any raids in the future,” said the source. He said the bribes were accepted either directly or through transfer into a third person’s account.