RM183mil in assets seized

The Star

11 hours ago

Shock and awe: ACTS officers storming a luxury residence in a high-stakes dawn raid in Batu Maung, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
BUTTERWORTH: A day after uncovering a metal and e-waste smuggling syndicate, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) continued its crackdown with asset seizures of over RM183mil.
The coordinated sweep at 13 locations across Penang, Kedah, Johor and the Klang Valley yesterday was conducted with the Customs Department, Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara Malaysia as part of Ops Metal.
In the second blitz in Penang yesterday, the MACC's elite Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS) stormed a company involved in e-waste processing in the Perai industrial area, Butterworth.
The team inspected company documents and examined e-waste components after briefly questioning a security guard.
A man believed to be the company's chief operating officer also provided the investigating team with information and a tour of the warehouse facility.
Some workers, including foreign nationals, were also checked for proper documentation.
MACC said 45 company bank accounts and 82 personal accounts, amounting to RM51mil, were frozen in the operation.
The assets seized were a 793ha oil palm plantation in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, along with eight properties in Penang – three bungalows in Batu Maung, a penthouse in Tanjung Tokong, a shoplot in Bayan Lepas, 12.54ha of land in Nibong Tebal, 2.8ha in Batu Uban and 2.26ha in Juru.
Also confiscated were six luxury cars valued at over RM1.9mil and five branded watches collectively worth more than RM740,000.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the seizure of the properties, vehicles and watches, as well as the freezing of bank accounts.
'The MACC is identifying parties in cahoots with this syndicate, which smuggled metal and e-waste through Port Klang and Penang Port.
'This has resulted in about RM950mil losses in tax revenue over the past six years.
'The focus of the investigation is on offences under Sections 16 (relating to soliciting or accepting gratification) and 18 (pertaining to deception through false claims) of the MACC Act 2009.
'We are also analysing and identifying elements of other criminal offences, including money laundering activities.
'This includes investigations by other agencies under the Income Tax Act 1967 and the Customs Act 1967,' he said.
On Monday, the MACC began a large-scale crackdown, targeting 19 locations in Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Kedah.
The operation centred on a prominent scrap metal company owner with a 'Datuk' title. However, the suspect – believed to be a foreign national – was not at his home in Batu Maung, having reportedly left the country two days earlier.
The team then moved to a scrap metal storage and processing facility on Jalan Bukit Minyak, in mainland Penang, believed to belong to the suspect.
For over six years, the well-organised smuggling syndicate has exported scrap metal and e-waste to several countries, evading nearly RM1bil in export duties.
The group falsely declared the cargo as machinery and other non-taxable metal goods to bypass the government's 15% export duty, with destinations including China, India and others.
To execute the scheme, the syndicate is alleged to have bribed Customs Department officers, establishing a corrupt network that operated undetected for years.