KUANTAN: Four enforcement officers from the Pahang Land and Mines Office were detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for allegedly accepting bribes from illegal bauxite-mining operators.
The four, aged between 30 and 39, included a senior officer within the Pahang Land and Mines Office.
MACC investigations division director Datuk Azam Baki said the four were arrested at their homes between 6pm and 9pm yesterday.
He said they are believed to have taken more than RM100,000 in bribes from the operators.
“A substantial amount of cash was found on them at the time of their arrest,” he said.
He said the four have been remanded for seven days.
"They are expected to be charged soon," he told a press conference at Pahang MACC headquarters here today.
Azam said the case was being investigated under the Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009.
Azam said they are also expecting to make more arrests soon involving both bribe recipients and givers.
MACC’s crackdown comes barely 24 hours after it had confirmed yesterday that elements of corruption were found in Pahang bauxite-mining activities.
In a statement yesterday, it had said that its investigations revealed corruption was practiced by several parties involved, and pledged to take action against those involved in the graft practices and abuse of power.
Yesterday, the federal government said all bauxite-mining activities in Kuantan would be suspended for three months from Jan 15.
This is to enable the bauxite-mining companies to clear their existing stockpile, as well as to give them time to implement required measures and systems to better manage their operations.
Environment and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had said the government had ceased approving all Approved Permits (APs) for the activities last week.