Gold bars and bags of cash among items seized from dirty Customs officers
(The Star) – PUTRAJAYA: Gold bars and bags of cash containing up to RM600,000 have been discovered in the homes of several Customs officers during raids by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Other ill-gotten stash included luxury watches and posh cars.
The MACC seized millions of ringgit from at least five of the 62 Customs officers arrested to date in a series of raids over under-declaration of duties and tax evasion.
MACC investigation director Datuk Mustafar Ali said a Customs director arrested last Tuesday had millions of ringgit spread over several bank accounts.
Another officer had almost RM1mil in his bank acount. Two others had between RM500,000 and RM850,000, he told a press conference yesterday.
It is learnt that investigations by a task force estimated that about RM10bil had been smuggled out or remitted overseas.
Last week, the MACC revealed that the raids were carried out as part of investigations into organisations believed to be involved in under-declaration of duties, tax evasion and money laundering.
Yesterday, Mustafar said that several officers had admitted to collecting “fees” ranging from RM100 to RM500 for every Customs declaration K1 form submitted and approved. (K1 forms are meant for imported goods.)
Up to RM10,000 is believed to have been collected for the K1 forms, which contained details of shipments and their dutiable value.
Such crimes, he said, accounted for RM108bil annually in unpaid duties and income tax.
On the MACC raids, Mustafar said: “Our officers found gold bars in the home of one officer.
“Another one had more than RM600,000 in several bags in his house.
“A senior officer had two imitation pistols with more than 200 bullets, besides fireworks and cigarettes,” he said, adding that the raiding team also seized high-end watches and posh cars from the officers concerned.
It is learnt that nine of the 62 arrested to assist in investigations are women.
Those caught are aged between 24 and 56.
Mustafar said investigations were still ongoing and that more people would be picked up.
He hinted that at least 100 forwarding agents were also being investigated for bribery.
To a question, he said the Customs unit based in Port Klang was the most corrupt with 48 officers arrested.
