Updated: 06:17PM Sat, 02 Apr 2011 

http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=59547

PUTRAJAYA (April 2, 2011): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested 62 Customs officers of various ranks and posts under the 3b operation for alleged involvement in corruption, money laundering and other offences.

MACC Investigation Division direction Datuk Mustafar Ali said the investigations carried out since last Monday, led by the MACC with the cooperation of five other agencies, found that more than RM10 billion had been smuggled out of the country.

He said from the number arrested, 53 male and nine female officers aged between 24 and 56, were arrested recently with 17 of them, including a Customs director, remanded.

"Cases investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 involved RM1.2 billion. Besides that, RM602 million have been frozen, RM382 million sealed and RM31.2 million worth of property forfeited," he told reporters, here, today.

He said the operation was carried out at five main ports -- Klang, Kuantan, Penang, Tanjung Pelapas and Pasir Gudang -- with 48 officers arrested in Port Klang alone.

Among the discoveries from the operation were bank savings account of up to almost RM500,000, RM850,000 in a unit trust account, and luxury cars.

"Yesterday, three bags containing cash of RM625,250, five gold bars worth RM50,000 and two imitation pistols with 241 bullets were found at a Customs officer's house," said Mustafar.

"Some of the officers arrested also admitted to receiving bribes of between RM100 and RM500 for each K1 form, which is the Customs' goods declaration form, since five months ago.

"We've also traced that RM10,000 was banked into an account each month, with seven transactions made so far.\

"We found a lot of money banked into some of the officers' bank accounts, RM200,000 worth of investment in a unit trust and a branded gold watch owned by an officer," he said.

Mustafar said the MACC officers found RM65,000 in cash, firecrackers, fireworks and kretek cigarettes at the house of the Customs director who was arrested and still under remand.

"We are still investigating the assets owned by him because there were thousands and even millions of ringgit in several bank accounts of his. One account had RM500,000 and another, RM2.1 million."

He said the 3b operation focused on getting back the government revenue siphoned and on ridding the Customs Department of corrupt practices.

"The country is denied by 'dirty hands', of large sums of revenue which could affect the economy," he added. -- Bernama