3 more detained for alleged bribery in bauxite mining

MACC investigations director Datuk Azam Baki says three more Pahang officials have been detained for alleged bribery in bauxite mining. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, January 9, 2016.

Three more people have been detained for alleged bribery in bauxite mining in Kuantan, bringing the total to seven being investigated for selling bauxite transportation permits at exorbitant fees, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) says today.

MACC investigations director Datuk Azam Baki said the three were detained yesterday around Kuantan between 4pm and midnight.

Like the four state officials arrested on January 6, they were also believed to have been involved in the issuance of Form 13D, which were compulsory for lorry drivers transporting bauxite from the mines to the port.

Azam, in a statement today, said the three, aged between 44 and 50 years of age, were believed to have acted as middlemen in the sale Form 13D, also known as a docket, to unlicensed miners.

The docket, which can usually be obtained at RM1 per piece, was sold at between RM150 and RM200 each to illegal miners.

The three had been remanded for seven days from today to assist in investigations under the MACC Act 2009, Azam said.

The commission would also continue its efforts to detect others involved in corruption that had led to illegal mining activity, which had caused leakage amounting to RM187 million from royalty collection last year.

MACC had said it was investigating a shortfall in bauxite royalties to the Pahang government.In the earlier round of arrests, MACC found a large amount of money hidden in a washing machine in the home of a senior Pahang land and mines officer.The money was part of more than the RM100,000 in bribes pocketed by the four officials through the sale of dockets.

Azam had said the team also seized stacks of the forms found in the suspects’ cars.

- TMI