Seven enforcement officers held by MACC for alleged monthly bribes

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven local authority enforcement officers have been remanded for allegedly receiving nearly RM12,000 in monthly bribes from businesses operating without proper licenses.

Sources indicated that the suspects, aged between 30 and 40, were apprehended by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers in Kuala Lumpur between 8:30 am and 11:00 am on Monday, July 22, as part of a special operation named “Ops Orange.”

The suspects appeared before the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, July 23. Magistrate Amira Abd Aziz granted a five-day remand until July 27 for five of the personnel, while the remaining two were remanded for seven days until July 29.

“Over a six-month period of surveillance and intelligence gathering, it was found that the six suspects were allegedly shielding illegal operations by accepting monthly bribes ranging from RM200 to RM1,000 from business owners and caretakers,” the source said.

“These bribes were in exchange for not taking enforcement actions against businesses using fake licenses, employing foreign workers, and operating with improper licenses,” the source added.

Additionally, RM40,000 was seized during the operation.

Kuala Lumpur MACC Director Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Husin confirmed the arrests and stated that the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. He also noted that one suspect was released on bail after giving his statement to the MACC.