Govt officer in Sabah nabbed over RM120,000 bribe for smuggling cover-up

KOTA KINABALU: Graft busters picked up a government department enforcement officer for suspicion of accepting RM120,000 in bribes to shield cigarette smuggling operations and releasing seized contraband.

The suspect, a man in his 30s, was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Saturday (Aug 10) at 4pm during an operation in Sabah’s interior Keningau.

“Initial investigations suggest that the suspect allegedly committed the offence earlier this month,” a source revealed.

It is believed that the suspect demanded the bribe in exchange for protecting cigarette smuggling activities in the Keningau area and for releasing a truck and contraband previously confiscated by his department.

Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrest, adding that the case is investigated under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

“The suspect will be brought to the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court tomorrow for a remand application,” said Karunanithy.

He also said they also expect more arrests.

The MACC urged the public to provide any information that could assist in the ongoing investigation as efforts to combat corruption continue across the state.