KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 27 individuals, including 18 enforcement agency officers, for their suspected involvement in a counter-setting syndicate, which facilitates the entry of foreigners into the country without following prescribed procedures.
According to sources, all 27 suspects – 19 men and eight women, aged between 20 and 50 – were detained yesterday in operations conducted across Selangor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Negeri Sembilan.
“Those arrested are suspected of being involved in a counter-setting syndicate, where they allegedly gave and received bribes in exchange for facilitating the entry of foreign nationals into the country without following prescribed procedures.
“Following the operation, MACC also seized more than RM200,000 in cash, along with several pieces of jewellery, gold bars, cars, motorcycles, handbags, watches, and telecommunications devices,” the sources said.
MACC has also frozen 40 bank accounts – 34 belonging to individuals and six to companies – with a total value exceeding RM1 million.
MACC filed remand applications at the Magistrate’s Courts in Shah Alam, Melaka, Seremban, and Kuala Lumpur, yesterday morning, and all suspects have been remanded for three to seven days, effective yesterday.
Apart from the 18 enforcement agency officers, the remand also includes five company owners, one company manager, and three members of the public, the sources said.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests and said that investigations are being conducted under Sections 16 and 17 of the MACC Act 2009. — Bernama
