PUTRAJAYA: Four civil servants were among eight people nabbed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for their alleged collusion with a syndicate smuggling cigarettes and alcohol into the country.
Houses, cars, cash, mobile phones, and laptops worth nearly RM6 million were also seized in the special operation yesterday.
A total of 237 bank accounts, holding some RM12 million, were also frozen.
All the suspects, aged between 40 and 50, were arrested in the Klang Valley.
"The suspects are believed to have been colluding with the syndicate from 2018 until 2023," said a source in the know.
The source said the syndicate is believed to have paid "several individuals" bribes amounting to RM8 million.
Of that amount, some RM5 million are believed to have been paid to the civil servants who were nabbed.
"The syndicate itself is believed to be responsible for a loss in tax revenue of around RM400 million," said the source, adding the syndicate used dummy accounts to bribe others.
"In addition, the syndicate was also found to be involved in money laundering activities by channeling money through shell companies, money changers, and licensed money lending companies," they said.
The four civil servants have been remanded for four days until Friday.
It is understood that the MACC is currently tracking down another civil servant allegedly involved in the case.
Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the remand of the four suspects involved in the case.
They are being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 for corporate liability and Section 165 of the Penal Code which relates to the acceptance of valuable items by civil servants in their official capacity.
"The MACC will also apply for remand against several other suspects detained under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009," he said. The section is related to bribery.
Yesterday's operation involved officers from MACC's Anti-Money Laundering division, the Inland Revenue Board, and Bank Negara Malaysia.