KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission remanded five people, including three enforcement officers stationed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) suspected of colluding with a syndicate in a foreigner-smuggling case.
A source said the MACC conducted 'Op Pump', which was later followed by Op Setting after an intelligence-sharing exercise among agencies.
"This resulted in the remand of five individuals, including three officers from an enforcement agency stationed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). They are suspected of being involved in a corruption case linked to a syndicate that facilitated the entry of foreign nationals without undergoing the proper checks," said a statement.
The remand order, ranging from one to five days, was issued by magistrate Arunjothy Selvaraju against the four men and a woman who are in their 20s and 40s, following an application made by the MACC at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court this morning.
According to a source, the MACC detained 14 suspects yesterday during operations around the Klang Valley.
They were brought to the MACC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for further investigation. Nine of these suspects were released after providing their statements.
"The enforcement officers are suspected to have been involved in this activity since 2016, receiving bribes ranging from RM300 to RM2,500 in exchange for allowing foreign nationals entry using the 'counter setting' modus operandi.
"Also remanded were a proxy who held assets on behalf of the main suspect, and the wife of the main suspect, who is still at large and is believed to be complicit in the scheme."
The statement said the raids resulted in the seizure of about RM200,000 in cash and jewellery valued at RM50,000. Several vehicles purchased in cash were also seized, the source added.
Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests when contacted and said the case is investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.