RM2.5mil luxury items seized in foreign worker probe

 14 bank accounts were also frozen after MACC arrested 38 people, including enforcement officers, civil servants and foreigners over suspected immigration-related corruption.

Among the items seized were 14 gold pieces, 80 pieces of jewellery, three luxury watches, a luxury handbag and 17 mobile phones.

PETALING JAYA:

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested 38 people, frozen 14 bank accounts containing about RM1.1 million and seized assets worth about RM2.5 million as part of its investigation into a syndicate involving enforcement officers, civil servants and foreign nationals.

An MACC source said the action followed investigations after 38 people were arrested in Putrajaya, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka last Wednesday, of whom 33 were placed under remand.

The suspects are believed to have committed various immigration offences, including allowing foreigners to remain in Malaysia without valid travel documents and abusing social visit passes for employment.

The 14 frozen bank accounts comprised five belonging to companies and nine to individuals.

Seized items reportedly include RM393,150 in cash, 18 million Indonesian rupiah (about RM4,050), 10 luxury cars and three motorcycles valued at roughly RM1.8 million, 14 one-gramme gold pieces worth about RM8,300, 80 pieces of jewellery worth about RM118,500, three watches worth about RM42,200, a luxury handbag worth about RM9,000, and 17 mobile phones worth about RM48,000.

According to the source, nine investigation papers have been opened so far.

Separately, the source said MACC arrested another enforcement officer at its Putrajaya headquarters yesterday who has since been released on bail.

When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests. - FMT