OP MIDDLEMAN: RM7.7 MILLION IN ASSETS FROZEN AND SEIZED - AZAM BAKI

PUTRAJAYA, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) carried out account freezes and seizures, amounting to RM7.7 million, under operations dubbed ‘Op Middleman’, targeting middlemen or ‘tontos’ (thugs acting as informants), believed to be involved in bribery linked to enforcement officers.

Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the amount included cash, luxury vehicles and jewellery, as well as the freezing of dozens of individual and company accounts, identified through intelligence gathered over a three-month period.

Overall, he said that the total value of the freezes and seizures stood at RM7.69 million, comprising cash in various currencies, 25 luxury vehicles estimated at RM2.5 million, and jewellery valued at about RM40,000, along with 27 mobile phones and 41 walkie-talkies believed to have been used in the activities.

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“MACC has also frozen 59 individual and company accounts, amounting to RM4.7 million, believed to be linked to this syndicate’s activities.

“Investigations have also uncovered bribery transactions, amounting to RM12.48 million, believed to have been paid between 2021 and 2025, and efforts are ongoing to trace the flow of the funds,” he said, at a press conference, here, today.

He said the operation, which began on Feb 24, was carried out in collaboration with the Road Transport Department (JPJ), and targeted syndicates acting as intermediaries to offer and channel bribes to enforcement officers.

He added that 18 individuals were arrested to assist in investigations, including four JPJ officers, four traffic police personnel, two company owners, seven tontos, and one civilian believed to be a mule account holder.

Investigations against the tontos are being conducted under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009, while enforcement officers are being investigated under Section 17(a) of the same law for allegedly receiving bribes.

According to him, the syndicate’s modus operandi involved offering bribes to enforcement personnel, to protect lorry operations committing various road offences, including carrying excessive loads.

Azam stressed that the MACC will continue comprehensive investigations, including examining digital accounts and the possible involvement of other parties, and did not rule out expanding similar operations to other states.

“We want to break this chain. As long as there are middlemen facilitating bribery payments, this crime will continue, and ultimately jeopardise the safety of road users,” he said.

The media previously reported Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s revelation, that there had been an internal information leak within JPJ, believed to have enabled the tonto syndicate to obtain advance notice of enforcement operations.

-- BERNAMA