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JOHOR BAHRU: Four people from two frozen meat importers were detained for four days by the Johor Magistrates Court on suspicion of involvement in corrupt activities, while investigations into frozen meat smuggling continue.
Three of the suspects, two men and a woman, were the director, the managing director and an employee of one of the companies, while the other was a director of the other company.
The remand order was issued by Deputy Secretary Nur Izzaty Muhammad on Monday (January 4) to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to further investigate the case under Section 17b of the MACC Act of 2009.
All of them, aged between 39 and 50, were detained at the Johor MACC office on Sunday night to assist in the ongoing investigation.
READ: SFA, MUIS investigates concerns that Malaysia’s alleged ‘meat cartel union’ has hit Singapore
There have been reports in Malaysia that an alleged meat cartel union smuggled, repackaged and relabelled non-halal frozen meat products as certified halal for sale in the country.
According to media reports, the cartel brought frozen meat from China, Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina, and repackaged the meat with the halal logo at a warehouse in Senai, Johor.
A raid was carried out last month and 1,500 tons of frozen meat worth 30 million ringgit ($ 7.5 million) were seized, according to the New Straits Times. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has ordered a special report on the scandal to be submitted to the government, said the director general of Malaysia’s Department of Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS), Saiful Yazan Alwi.
The MACC said in an earlier statement that they had identified the frozen meat importers believed to be involved in the corrupt activities.
They said that this was possible with the cooperation of the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Affairs, the Department of Veterinary Services, MAQIS and the Customs Department.
