GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has established the involvement of a majority of high-ranking traffic police officers in corrupt practices linked to the infamous lorry drivers’ protection racket.
They were detained in Penang during a large-scale operation on Tuesday.
Sources close to the investigation told the New Straits Times that the anti-graft body had found paper trails to positively pinpoint the involvement of the high-ranking traffic police officers in taking bribes from transportation companies to overlook offences committed by their lorry drivers.
“All we can say for now is that MACC has positively established the involvement of a majority of the high-ranking traffic police officers in taking bribes.
“As for the rest, MACC is in the process of gathering more information on them,” a source said yesterday.
Another source said the latest scandal was similar to the Penang Road Transport Department’s (RTD) lorry driver protection racket, which was busted by MACC last April for allegedly giving protection to lorry drivers who committed traffic offences in the state.
In the state RTD’s case, the bribes were deposited into the bank accounts of the more than 50 low-ranking state RTD enforcement and former Land Public Transport Commission officials. They have since been charged for the offence in courts.
“Similarly, the high-ranking traffic police officers had also been receiving the bribes personally and through their proxies.
“MACC has and will continue to summon these proxies to assist in its investigations into the matter,” the source added.
MACC had identified about 70 high-ranking officers and personnel in the northern states who may be involved in protecting lorry drivers from enforcement action.
The 12, with the rank of superintendent, assistant superintendent and an inspector from the Penang Public Order and Traffic Department, were the first batch of high-ranking officers and personnel to be detained.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki did not dismiss the idea that more arrests would be made in the second wave of arrests in coming weeks.
The total amount of bribes received was close to RM500,000. Each of them was alleged to have received between RM10,000 and RM25,000 monthly.
The matter is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Yesterday, MACC obtained a seven-day remand order against the 12, which was issued by George Town Magistrate’s Court senior assistant registrar Nur Fadrina Zulkhairi following an application by the anti-graft body.