MACC seizes RM332m in assets from scrap metal and e-waste smuggling syndicate
As reported by The Star, the syndicate is accused of bribing enforcement officers, causing a loss of more than RM950 million in export tax revenue over the last six years.
'MACC has frozen 324 bank accounts, comprising 142 corporate accounts and 182 individual accounts, totalling nearly RM150mil. Assets seized so far amount to about RM183mil,' an MACC source told The Star.
The source also revealed that 27 witnesses have been questioned, including a key suspect, whose statement was recorded today. No arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing.
According to the daily, Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin, senior director of the MACC's Special Operations Division, confirmed that the commission is actively working to identify those involved in the smuggling syndicate.
The investigation is being conducted under Sections 16 and 18 of the MACC Act 2009, which cover bribery and false claims, as well as possible violations of anti-money laundering laws.
Additionally, agencies like the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Customs Department, and Bank Negara are investigating related offences under the Income Tax Act 1967 and the Customs Act 1967.
On July 14, Bernama reported that the first raid was conducted at a three-storey luxury bungalow in Batu Maung, Penang at around 6am Monday. The bungalow is believed to belong to a businessman who owns a scrap metal company.
Officers conducted a search after a domestic helper opened the door to the residence, though the company owner, reportedly a foreign national, was away on business.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Anwar, govt succeed in removing names from Mukhriz's tax lawsuit
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government have successfully struck out their names in an application to initiate judicial review filed by Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir linked to an Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) additional tax assessment amounting to more than RM5mil. Mukhriz, 60, filed the application on Dec 20 last year. He named the LHDN CEO or director-general, Anwar in his capacity as the Finance Minister and the government as the first, second and third respondents, respectively. During yesterday's proceedings, Justice Amarjeet Singh allowed the application by Anwar and the government to strike out their names after hearing submissions from both parties. However, Justice Amarjeet dismissed Anwar and the government's application to strike out several paragraphs in Mukhriz's affidavit that mentioned them. Senior Federal Counsel Irmawatie Daud appeared for the applicants, while lawyer Syed Afiq Syed Albakri represented Mukhriz. On Jan 2, the High Court granted Mukhriz leave to challenge the tax notices by LHDN on grounds that there were issues. The court fixed Dec 16 to hear the application on its merits. In Mukhriz's judicial review application, he is seeking a court order to quash the first respondent's additional tax assessment notice for 2017, 2018 and 2019, amounting to RM5,020,707.18, on grounds that the action is illegal and unreasonable. The notices were for additional tax assessment for 2017 (RM2,558,875.90), 2018 (RM2,445,004.91) and 2019 (RM16,826.37). He is also seeking a declaration that the decision to impose the penalty on him under Section 113(2) of the Income Tax Act is void and beyond legal authority. Mukhriz contends that LHDN wrongfully considered his disposal of shares in Opcom Holdings Bhd and dividends received from M Ocean Capital Sdn Bhd as taxable income, although they were not taxable. He is also seeking general and exemplary damages against the respondents. In March, Anwar and the government had applied to strike out their names as they contended that there was no need to list them as respondents in the judicial review. They said the action of naming them in the lawsuit was 'clearly frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court process that is obviously unsustainable'.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
MACC to review A-G report for misconduct
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will conduct a thorough review of the Auditor-General's Report Series 2/2025 to identify governance weaknesses and potential misconduct involving government agencies and government-linked companies (GLCs). In a statement, MACC said the review would include follow-up action on any issues suspected of involving criminal offences under the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694), and would not be limited to governance lapses alone. 'The MACC takes note of the report recently tabled in Parliament, particularly issues involving governance weaknesses and potential misconduct in agencies and GLCs. The MACC fully supports the Auditor-General's disclosures,' the statement read, Bernama reported yesterday. It will work closely with the National Audit Department to obtain relevant information and supporting documents to facilitate swift investigations and follow-up action.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Op Metal probe: MACC now targets law enforcers, port staff
KUALA LUMPUR: Graft busters have their sights set on law enforcement and port authorities at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) in Penang as they expand investigations into the scrap metal smuggling operation. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has zeroed in on the unloading of a scrap metal shipment at the NBCT and has not ruled out the possibility that the company in Batu Maung, Penang, which is under investigation, had inside help from law enforcement and port authorities. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki told the New Straits Times the commission was looking at elements of graft and abuse of power that had cost the government an estimated RM950 million in lost export duties over the past six years. This latest development is a follow-up to the ongoing Op Metal, where MACC's Special Operations Division, through a multi-agency task force with the Customs Department, Internal Revenue Board and Bank Negara Malaysia, raided 19 locations in Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Kedah. "We do not rule out the possibility of graft. Further investigations are being conducted," he said. Azam said investigations revealed that the scrap metal came from both domestic and foreign sources. "Further checks also revealed that the processed scrap metal would either be exported or sold to local companies. We are also looking into the likelihood that these activities avoided Customs duties and taxes." Azam said the focus of the investigation was on a scrap metal company owner, a Penang-based "Datuk Seri" whose home in Batu Maung was also raided in the operation. The "Datuk Seri", who was abroad during the raid, had his statement recorded by the MACC yesterday. It was previously reported that a syndicate operating in five states was smuggling scrap iron out of the country, leading to the government losing about RM950 million in export duties over the past six years. Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate would export smuggled scrap iron to India and China, among other countries, by declaring them to be machinery or machine parts, or other metals that were not subject to export duties of 15 per cent. Sources told the NST the syndicate had bribed several law enforcement officers to ensure the consignments were cleared without paying the 15 per cent export duties. Penang Port Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan said the port operator did not have knowledge of the content inside containers. "Only the Customs and other government agencies will know the nature as well as cargo content," he said.
