KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 30 people in Johor and Sarawak for illegal logging activities and froze 30 bank accounts belonging to 10 companies worth RM18 million.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull warned that this is not the end of Ops Tukul as they were also investigating several state Forestry officers for possible involvement in the illegal felling of trees which had put the forest reserve under threat of destruction.
He said those arrested were the result of nine-month surveillance and public tip-off.
Four individuals, including two timber logging company managers pleaded guilty in Limbang Sessions Court and fined a total of RM80,000 for offering bribes to enforcement officers.
Mohd Shukri said the illegal logging in Sarawak was believed to have resulted in losses of at least RM100 million each year.
“The officers nabbed were alleged to have received bribes between RM300 and the highest was RM10,000.
“The senior police officer in his 30s, who is attached to the Sarawak Crime Investigation Department will be charged under Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009.
“The Act carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of the bribe involved,” he said.
It was reported yesterday that The Johor Forestry Department was being probed over similar activities traced near a dam in the state.