Three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers were hauled to court today for stealing US$300,000 (RM900,000) in foreign currencies from three money changers at the KL International Airport last month.

Deputy superintendent S Vijayarao and assistant superintendents Wan Elfai Shazimy Wan Ahmad and Aziz Jaafar were jointly charged, with two others still at large, with robbing the moneychangers inside a toilet next to a Delifrance outlet on the first floor of a satellite building at KLIA at 11.25pm on Sept 15.

They were charged in a sessions court in Bandar Salak Tinggi, Sepang, under Section 395 of the Penal Code. Senior deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajayaya Awang Mahmud, DPP Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abbas and DPP Mohd Najib Zakaria appeared for the prosecution.

Their accomplices who are at large have been identified as T Sritharan, 32, and D Nagarajan, 34.

The three moneychangers, who are Singaporeans, have been identified as Hameed Saadik Batcha, Abd Rahman Marican and Mohamed Zakkariya Mohamed Shatik.

The MACC officers, who are aged between 30 and 48 years, have been suspended by the commission following their arrest and were released on police bail on Sept 29.

Accused offered bail of RM30,000 each

Vijayarao, Wan Elfai Shazimy  and Aziz were also charged with abetting Sritharan by introducing and having him impersonate as an MACC officer to the three moneychangers.

Sessions judge Wan Mohd. Norisham Wan Yaakob allowed the three bail of RM30,000 with one surety each and also imposed several conditions on them.

The case will be mentioned again on Dec 6. The three officers were represented by T Vijayasandran and Mohd Nazri Yahya.

In a related development, the MACC said today the suspension orders on the three would continue to be in force.

It said in a statement that as an enforcement agency involved in fighting corruption, it would not compromise on any of its officers alleged to be involved in crime.

“We will consider enforcing other disciplinary actions, based on the existing regulations, and the commission promises to work and cooperate with the police in their investigations,” the statement said.