Over RM1mil seized in ‘counter setting’ raid, 37 enforcement officers nabbed

PUTRAJAYA: Graft busters detained 37 officers of an enforcement agency in connection with their alleged involvement in a “counter setting” syndicate following swoops in six states.

Counter setting refers to foreigners who enter the country without proper document inspections by going through designated and predetermined lanes at entry points.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the officers were detained in Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor on Thursday (Sept 12) in an operation codenamed “Ops Pump 2.0”.

“Those detained were 27 men and 10 women aged between 20 and in their 40s.

“We are investigating under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009,” he said when contacted on Friday (Sept 13).

Azam said the MACC also seized more than RM1mil in cash.

“More than RM500,000 were seized from a suspect in Pahang, more than RM200,000 from a suspect in Selangor, more than RM170,000 in Johor and more than RM100,000 in Negri Sembilan.

“We believe the cash were bribes received from a syndicate, who brought in foreigners at KL International Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2,” he said.

Various items were also seized including gold bullions, luxury watches, cars, motorcycles and mobile phones, he said.

Meanwhile, In Putrajaya, Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin granted a five-day remand involving nine enforcement officers – five men and four women – until Sept 17, after they were brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

In Selangor, Magistrate Nur Syuhada Abdullah granted a five-day remand for eight male and three female enforcement officers.

In Negri Sembilan, seven male enforcement officers were remanded for seven days until Sept 19 while in Melaka, three male enforcement officers and a female enforcement officer were remanded for five days until Sept 17.

In Kuala Lumpur, Magistrate Haneefa Ariffin granted a six-day remand for three male enforcement officers until Sept 18.

Three other officers – two women and a man – were released on MACC bail after their statements were recorded.