KAJANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained 10 individuals, among whom are five enforcement officers, for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme pertaining to the reclassification of regular diesel vehicles as green diesel vehicles.
A source said the suspects, aged between 33 and 66, were arrested between 11am and 3pm yesterday.
The illicit activity was believed to have been orchestrated by four agents and a company owner, a woman.
The source said the modus operandi included collusion between commercial vehicle owners seeking reduced road tax and a network of agents facilitating unauthorised alterations in the vehicle registration system.
"The syndicate is believed to be active from 2019 to 2022 and the total bribe money received is estimated at RM1.28 million."
The enforcement officers, three men and two women, were believed to have caused RM12.73 million in losses to the government from 2018 to 2022, the source added.
Another source said commercial vehicle owners who wanted 50 per cent reduction in their road tax would use the services of these suspects via agents to make the alteration.
He said the agent will then contact the enforcement personnel and provide the vehicle registration number to change in the system.
Acting on a tip-off, the source said MACC carried out a special operation today and arrested all the suspects in Perak (2), Selangor (3), Johor (4) and Sabah (1).
He also did not rule out the possibility of follow-up arrests.
Meanwhile, MACC Intelligence Division director Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman confirmed the arrest and said the case was being investigated under Section 16 (a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.
He said all the suspects will be brought for remand tomorrow.