MACC arrests 13 inspection officers; Puspakom probe to be expanded to centres nationwide – Azam Baki

Following the suspension of six Puspakom staff on suspicion of being involved in a syndicate for heavy vehicle inspection approvals, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) have arrested 13 vehicle inspection officers at vehicle inspection centre in Kuala Lumpur for the same matter, Bernama has reported.

According to sources cited by Bernama, the suspects aged between 20 and 40 were arrested when they were present at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to provide evidence. To date, the MACC has arrested 22 suspects including 19 vehicle inspection officers, an agent and two runners involved in the syndicate, according to the source.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that all of them are believed to have received bribes ranging from RM150 to RM1,500 per month in cash from runners for helping to approve vehicle inspections at their place of duty. The arrest of all the suspects follows the arrests of six vehicle inspectors last Monday and the results of an interrogation conducted by the MACC on an agent handed over by the road transport department (JPJ) previously,” the source was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, investigations by the MACC into vehicle inspection syndicates will be expanded to include other inspection centres nationwide, and no limited to centres in Kuala Lumpur, said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, reported the New Straits Times.

“Based on our collaboration with the road transport department (JPJ) and Puspakom, we will look into other inspection centres in the country as well,” Azam said.

“Our goal is to eliminate corruption at the inspection centres Our investigations lead us to believe that the first suspect, who was handed over to us by [the JPJ], is the mastermind of the operations. We do not rule out the possibility that more arrests will be made to facilitate investigations,” he continued.

The arrests were confirmed by MACC deputy chief commissioner of operations Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, who said that the case was being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009, and said that all 13 inspection officers arrested will be released on MACC bail following investigations.

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