![[UPDATED] Journalists arrested in smuggling syndicate bust were ex-intelligence officers](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fhjkljk777_1755227432.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
[UPDATED] Journalists arrested in smuggling syndicate bust were ex-intelligence officers
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the two had opted for early retirement before taking up positions as journalists at a media company.
"Based on our checks, their jobs as journalists were merely a front for their actual roles in the syndicate," he said when contacted today.
It was reported yesterday that graft busters obtained a seven-day remand order for individuals arrested in a smuggling racket.
Among them are five military officers, two journalists from an online news agency, a company manager, an administrative assistant with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and a foreign woman.
Four male suspects were remanded for seven days until Aug 20, two men and one woman for two days until Aug 18, while two men and the Indonesian woman were remanded for three days until Aug 15.
Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin issued the remand orders after an application by MACC at the Putrajaya magistrate's court yesterday.
According to a source, the suspects, aged between 30 and 55, were arrested around the Klang Valley on Wednesday during Op Sohor by MACC's Intelligence Division with the cooperation of the police.
"The senior military intelligence officers are believed to have colluded with the syndicate by leaking operational information to help them evade enforcement action.
"The smuggled items included drugs, cigarettes and other goods from neighbouring countries, with an estimated value of about RM5 million a month," the source said.
During Wednesday's operation, MACC also seized more than RM63,000 in cash, several packages suspected to contain drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, alcohol and an imitation firearm.
MACC Intelligence Division senior director Datuk Saiful Ezral Arifin, when contacted, confirmed the arrests, adding that the case is being investigated for corruption and money laundering offences.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
7 minutes ago
- Malaysiakini
MACC nets RM31.4b in seizures, RM28b in forfeitures in 5 years
The MACC has seized assets worth RM31.4 billion from corruption-related activities over the past five years. Its chief commissioner Azam Baki said the commission had also successfully forfeited assets valued at nearly RM28 billion during the same period.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
MACC: Two journalists nabbed in smuggling ring formerly military intelligence, media job acts as front for syndicate
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — Two journalists among 10 people arrested for alleged involvement in a drug and contraband smuggling syndicate were also former military intelligence officers, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed today. Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the two had opted for early retirement before taking up positions as journalists at an online media company. 'Based on our checks, their jobs as journalists were merely a front for their actual roles in the syndicate,' he was quoted saying by New Straits Times. Yesterday, the Magistrate's Court issued remand orders against 10 individuals, including five senior Malaysian Armed Forces officers, to assist the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigation into a smuggling syndicate operating in the country's south. The MACC said the others remanded comprise two journalists from an online media agency, a company manager, an administrative assistant at the Malaysian Medical Association, and a foreign woman. According to sources, the five senior military officers and five civilians, aged between 30 and 55, were arrested around the Klang Valley earlier this week in 'Ops Sohor', carried out by MACC's Intelligence Division with the cooperation of the police. The military intelligence officers are suspected of colluding with the syndicate by leaking operational information to help them evade enforcement. The smuggled goods allegedly brought into the country include drugs, cigarettes and other items from neighbouring countries, with an estimated value of about RM5 million a month. The raids followed about 12 months of intelligence gathering, and the suspects are believed to have received between RM30,000 and RM50,000 in bribes for each smuggling trip conducted. In the Wednesday operation, MACC also seized over RM63,000 in cash, several packages suspected to contain drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, liquor and imitation firearms found at the raided premises.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
MACC nets RM31.4bil in seizures, RM28bil in forfeitures over five years
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized assets worth RM31.4bil from corruption-related activities over the past five years. Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission had also successfully forfeited assets valued at nearly RM28bil during the same period. He said the amount included assets worth about RM183mil seized during raids on smuggling syndicates under Ops Metal. "Also seized were real estate valued at RM620mil in the investigation into the fibre network development project, as well as cash, luxury cars and bank accounts totalling RM36mil in a case involving the embezzlement of highway construction funds. "MACC also seized luxury assets worth RM32mil from the residence of a 'Tan Sri', including 217 luxury watches and 27 designer handbags," he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 15). He added that the MACC's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Division is currently managing 41 immovable properties, including land and buildings, that are awaiting disposal. Azam described the operations as clear evidence of the MACC's proactive approach in detecting, investigating and taking firm action against those involved in corruption and money laundering. "This figure is not just a statistic, but reflects the extent of the MACC's commitment to recovering assets from criminal proceeds for the country," he said. He added that such efforts would not only restore revenue to the nation but also strengthen public confidence in the country's enforcement agencies. - Bernama
