Nurahim Abdul Rahim
MIRI: A businessman and a senior officer of a government agency in Miri were yesterday arrested by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for two corruption offences.
The 45-year-old businessman was arrested around 10.45am at MACC office in Lopeng here after he came forward and
surrendered himself for allegedly giving bribe to an officer from Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, MACC Miri chief assistant director Nurahim Abdul Rahim disclosed yesterday.
The businessman – a supplier and transporter of LPG, petrol and diesel to rural and remote areas in the division – allegedly gave a bribe of RM4,000 to the ministry’s officer from Putrajaya.
The offence was said to be committed in a hotel here around September last year.
The bribe was an inducement for the officer not to take action against him for not having proper records of stock and distribution of subsidised goods such as LPG, petrol and diesel, which is an offence under Regulation 13 of Controlled Goods Regulations 1974 of Control Goods Act 1961.
“The suspect is now detained by the commission for investigation into false claim of distribution of subsidised diesel and petrol to people in remote and rural
areas in the division and the state in general. We are all out to apprehend people committing any offence related to subsidised diesel and petrol in the state. The operation will be carried out throughout the state in two months,” he said.
The suspect was produced in the Magistrate’s Court here and ordered to be remanded for seven days to facilitate investigation.
The commission also arrested an assistant enforcement chief of Road Transport Department Miri for asking for a bribe from a member of the public.
The 35-year-old officer was arrested for allegedly requesting RM450 from a man if the latter wanted his name to be cleared from the blacklist to enable him to renew his driving licence.
The suspect was released on MACC bail late yesterday evening after the commission completed its investigation on the alleged offence under Section 17(a) Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
Meanwhile, Nurahim disclosed that about 100 complaints and reports on corruption offences were received by the commission from Miri Division including from Limbang, Lawas and Marudi last year, and 15 of the complaints had been filed for investigation by the commission.
Nurahim also called on members of the public to cooperate by giving information on those asking and giving bribe.
He also acknowledged the role of the media and their contribution in creating awareness among the public on corruption.