The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has busted a fuel cartel in Sabah and Sarawak that had been smuggling subsidised diesel abroad for 10 years, costing the government RM247 million.
Speaking at a press conference here today, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said six people had been arrested so far under Op Karen, carried out from Sept 2 to Sept 8.
“The arrests involved four company directors and two company managers. A total of 36 witnesses have given their statements.
“So far, there is no information involving VIPs,” he said, adding that two of the suspects arrested hold the title of Dato.
According to Azam, the cartel smuggled subsidised fuel out of the country using tankers tracked in real time.
He also said that secret societies and local enablers, including fishermen, were involved in facilitating the cartel’s operations.
“To take the oil out of Sarawak, particularly from Bintulu, they needed help from certain groups, including fishermen, to get the fuel into tankers.
“This was to avoid detection by the authorities. These are enablers who also provided protection,” he said.
Azam said that investigators had frozen RM110 million in 498 bank accounts and seized assets worth RM80.8 million, including five vessels valued at RM52 million, subsidised fuel worth RM4.5 million, nine luxury watches, and RM156,000 in cash, including foreign currencies.
He added that investigators were pursuing leads involving civil servants, but declined to provide details as this was part of another ongoing investigation.
