Siblings remanded in probe on diesel smuggling, bribery

SIBU: Two petrol station operators, who are also siblings, have been remanded to facilitate investigations in connection with a major subsidised diesel smuggling activity and bribing enforcements officers to avoid actions.

Magistrate Romaroi Jonoi granted the remand order after a successful application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Monday (Aug 26).

The man, in his 40s, was remanded for four days while his younger sister, in her 30s, was held for one day to facilitate investigation.

According to sources, the siblings were detained alongside two men and a woman during ‘Ops Liter’, conducted by the MACC’s Special Operations Division and Special Tactical Squad, as well as officials from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) at a diesel storage depot in Sungai Bidut on Sunday (Aug 25).

The suspects are alleged to be part of a syndicate that has been illegally selling subsidised diesel, intended for fishermen, at inflated prices to foreign buyers since 2012.

The operation revealed that the syndicate’s profits may have reached up to RM400 million.

Aside from that, the suspects were also accused of bribing enforcement officials to overlook their activities, including the illegal storage of diesel without proper permits.

During the operation, the authorities seized two barges, 30 oil storage tanks containing about 1.6 million litres of diesel, and about RM3.7 million in cash.

It is understood that the other three suspects – two men and one woman – were released on bail.

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