KUALA LUMPUR: Two individuals recently detained by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) were "runners" appointed by the six officers from Puspakom.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the six Puspakom vehicle inspectors had been released on bail after giving their statements.
The two runners, he said, have been remanded for five days starting today until Saturday.
The runners were suspected of acting as intermediaries in collecting bribes from companies to facilitate the approval of heavy vehicles that did not meet the required standards.
"All male suspects, aged between 30 and 50, were detained while providing statements at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya from 12pm to 11pm.
"The arrests were made following an investigation by the MACC into an agent referred by the Road Transport Department (RTD) and the suspect is still under remand," he said today.
Azam said the investigation is currently focused on the involvement of all the detained Puspakom officers, after information revealed that the runners collected between RM100 and RM250 for each vehicle approved, despite not meeting the set standards.
He said the authorities believed similar activities might be taking place at other vehicle inspection centres, and follow-up arrests would be made to facilitate investigations.
"This case is being investigated under Section 16(b)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, which involves soliciting and accepting bribes," he said.
Earlier, MACC had detained eight individuals, including six vehicle inspectors, who were believed to be involved in a syndicate that was approving heavy vehicle inspections at a vehicle inspection centre in the city.
The remand order was granted by magistrate Irza Zulaikha at the Putrajaya magistrate's court this morning.
On Dec 30, a surprise RTD check at the Wangsa Maju Puspakom centre found an unsafe vehicle being passed. RTD officers also found several lorries with unsafe retreaded tyres awaiting inspection.
On Jan 2, Puspakom chief executive officer Mahmood Razak Bahman said four employees from its Wangsa Maju branch had been summoned by the RTD for questioning over allegations that a vehicle was approved despite not meeting standards.
Mahmood said only two staff members were called up to give their statements.