OP GRIP: MACC FREEZE 41 BANK ACCOUNTS WORTH RM70 MLN AND SEIZE ASSETS WORTH RM13 MLN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen 41 bank accounts—involving 16 company accounts and 25 individual banking accounts—estimated at RM70 million, following a raid on companies believed to be involved in tyre smuggling and falsification of import and export documents on September 29.

According to a source, the raid, conducted by the MACC's Special Operations Division in an integrated manner with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Inland Revenue Board, and Bank Negara Malaysia through "Op Grip" as a Multi-Agency Task Force, also seized four immovable assets valued at approximately RM13 million.

The source stated that so far two companies have been identified as being involved in the syndicate, and one of the modus operandi used was through purchases from unauthorised traders and sticker fraud.

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"The initial investigation found that the smuggled tyres were new tyres, but they had various issues such as sticker fraud and barcode tampering.

"However, so far no arrests have been made, and the investigation is still ongoing," the source said.

Meanwhile, MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention), Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman, said the MACC has also opened a governance investigation paper related to the case.

"The Governance Investigation Division will conduct an investigation into documents related to the procurement of these tyres because it was found that these tyres were not registered and there are elements of smuggling or unauthorized import that could pose a safety risk to consumers," he said.

The investigation is being conducted under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001).

-- BERNAMA