Court releases final suspect remanded in Sibu over subsidised diesel syndicate, bribery case on MACC bail

SIBU (Aug 30): The last remaining suspect remanded here over alleged involvement in a subsidised diesel smuggling syndicate and bribery of enforcement officials was released today.

Magistrate Oon Kork Chern ordered the suspect, aged 42, to be released on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) bail.

MACC arrested the man along with his two sisters as well as another man and foreign woman at a diesel storage depot in Sungai Bidut, during a joint operation codenamed ‘Op Liter’ by the MACC and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living on Sunday.

The 39-year-old sister was released on MACC bail on Tuesday, while the 37-year-old sister was released along with the two other suspects on Monday, also on MACC bail.

According to sources, the five suspects are believed to be part of a syndicate that misappropriated diesel meant for fishermen, which they sold at a higher price to buyers overseas.

The syndicate is believed to have been operating since 2012, raking in profits of up to RM400 million.

They are also suspected of paying bribes to enforcement officers to avoid action against them for storing diesel without a valid permit.

During the operation, MACC seized approximately RM3.7 million in cash, two barges, and 30 oil storage tanks believed to contain approximately 1.6 million litres of diesel.

The case is being investigated under Section 16(b)(B) and Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, Section 471 of the Penal Code, and the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

MACC also arrested an assistant enforcement officer and the director of an enforcement agency.

The director has been released on MACC bail, while the assistant enforcement officer who was remanded until Sept 2 was also released today on MACC bail.