KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested 12 individuals including directors of financial consultancy firms and bank officers from several financial institutions allegedly involved in corruption and money laundering activities in a special operation codenamed 'Op Sky' yesterday.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia at 24 locations, including residences and offices around the Klang Valley and resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals.
Among those arrested were two directors of financial consultancy firms, a foundation director, a bank manager, and a former sales manager from a banking institution.
They are believed to be involved in corruption and money laundering linked to personal loan applications from various banking institutions.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said Op Sky, was carried out jointly by the MACC's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Division, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), and several local financial institutions.
Azam said preliminary investigations revealed that some bank officers had accepted bribes from financial consultancy firm officials in exchange for processing and approving personal loans for clients with outstanding old debts.
"The bank officers involved identified public servants with overdue debts and then introduced them to financial consultancy firms offering 'multiple loan' schemes," said Azam.
The consultancy firms would allegedly assist by submitting falsified documents to various financial institutions to secure loans.
"Once the loans were approved, the firms advanced funds to borrowers to settle their debts, and the borrowers would repay the advance. The remaining loan amount would then be invested in an investment scheme.
"As part of the operation, MACC froze 70 accounts linked to individuals and companies, with a total value exceeding RM16.2 million," he said.
In addition, he said nine vehicles of various brands were seized, including a Ferrari F8 Spider, Lexus RC300, Mercedes-Benz GLC43, BMW, Toyota Alphard, Mazda, and Honda.
"We also seized more than RM300,000 in cash, HKD95,000, 17 luxury watches valued at over RM11.1 million, five designer handbags valued at over RM430,000, five sets of jewellery valued at over RM50,000, as well as two laptops and two tablets," he added.
A five-day remand order has been obtained for the 12 individuals, 10 men and two women all aged between 20 to 40 years old until Jan 18.
The remand order was issued by Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court. The case is being investigated under Section 16 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.