KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 27 individuals, including 18 enforcement agency officers, for their suspected involvement in a counter-setting syndicate, which facilitates the entry of foreigners into the country without following prescribed procedures.
According to sources, all 27 suspects — 19 men and eight women, aged between 20 and 50 — were detained yesterday in operations conducted across Selangor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Negeri Sembilan.
“Those arrested are suspected of being involved in a counter-setting syndicate, where they allegedly gave and received bribes in exchange for facilitating the entry of foreign nationals into the country without following prescribed procedures.
“Following the operation, MACC also seized more than RM200,000 in cash, along with several pieces of jewellery, gold bars, cars, motorcycles, handbags, watches, and telecommunications devices,” they said.
MACC also froze 40 bank accounts — 34 belonging to individuals and six to companies — with a total value exceeding RM1 million.
It filed remand applications at the Magistrate’s Courts in Shah Alam, Melaka, Seremban, and Kuala Lumpur this morning, and all suspects have been remanded for three to seven days, effective today.
The sources added that besides the officers, the remand also includes five company owners, one company manager, and three members of the public.
When contacted, MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests and said the investigations are being conducted under Sections 16 and 17 of the MACC Act 2009.
