[ad_1]
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has dispatched two people, including a director of an enforcement agency, to assist in investigations in relation to the special exemption granted to various companies to transport heavy oil in domestic waters.
The director of the law enforcement agency was in pretrial detention for four days until December 18, while the director of the company was in pretrial detention for five days until December 19 to assist in the investigation.
Judge Shah Wira Abdul Halim issued the pre-trial detention order after hearing MACC’s request at Putrajaya Magistrates Court here today.
According to a MACC source, the two men, aged between 50 and 60, were detained at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya when they came to give their statements.
The head of the government agency was suspected of receiving monthly bribes between 2019 and 2020 from managers of shipping companies in exchange for not inspecting ships carrying out refueling activities in Malaysian waters.
The case is being investigated under Section 16 (a) (A) of the MACC Act of 2009.
Meanwhile, a deputy director general with the title of “Datuk”, who was placed in pretrial detention on December 11 in the same case, had his pretrial detention extended until December 18.
Four other suspects, including a divisional secretary of a government department and a director of a shipping company, with the title of “Datuk Seri”, who were granted a five-day preventive detention from the same date, were placed released on bail of between RM 9,000 and RM 15,000.
According to MACC, the two top government officials were believed to have abused their position and power by issuing exemption letters to certain companies without the knowledge and approval of the Minister of Transportation.
The act was also carried out without the knowledge of the department’s director general, who had previously issued an order prohibiting the use of single-hull vessels for the transport of heavy oil in Malaysian waters.
