Sibu diesel smuggling case: One sibling released, another still in remand

SIBU (Aug 27): One of the two siblings remanded for alleged involvement in a subsidised diesel smuggling syndicate and bribery of enforcement officials was released today.

Magistrate Oon Kork Chern ordered the suspect, aged 39, to be released on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) bail.

The other sibling, aged 42, has been under a four-day remand since Monday.

MACC sources said the brother-sister pair was arrested along with three others – two men and a 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 (KPDN).

According to the 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,” the sources said.

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 other three suspects had also been released on MACC bail earlier.

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.