Tuesday 20 October 2009

Govt dept director, district chief nabbed by MACC

Published: Tuesday October 20, 2009 The Star


By LOURDES CHARLES


KUALA LUMPUR: A director of a government department and his district chief have been arrested by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission for allegedly accepting more than RM100,000 involving the awarding of a timber concession contract.


Two forest rangers from the forestry department have also been arrested.

It is learnt a special team from the Putra Jaya MACC headquarters investigating the case were also said to have seized more than RM300,000 from the house of the director who is said to be a millionaire.


Sources said the officers also found some of the cash in the director’s car and were currently checking his bank accounts.


It is learnt that the MACC officers had on Monday arrested the district chief in Kulim, Kedah before arresting the two forest rangers in Sungai Petani following the questioning of the district chief.


They said the three led the MACC officers to the arrest of the director who was picked up from his office in Alor Star Tuesday morning.


MACC director of investigations Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull confirmed the arrest of the four and the seizure of about RM300,000 but declined to elaborate as investigations were still underway.


It is learnt that the MACC was also investigating several others as they believe all of them could have been involved in previous illegal logging activities in the state that was costing the government millions of ringgit.


All four have been ordered to be remanded to facilitate the MACC in their investigations.


http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/20/nation/20091020180039&sec=nation