PARLIAMENT An assistant director of the Customs Deparment was charged under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act after transgressions were highlighted in the 2011 Auditor-General's Report that was released last year.

In a written reply to Parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low said that the Customs officer was among three who were charged after investigations into cases that were highlighted in the report.

NONE However, it was not made clear whether the Customs officer is the same person who had gone on an unauthorised RM1.82 million shopping spree on the Treasury's tab.

Neither the written reply of Low ( right ), nor the 2011 Auditor-General's Report named the officer they were referring to.

However, it was reported that the government did lodge a police report against the errant Customs officer highlighted in the report.

According to Low, the Customs assistant director is one of three people charged, after their wrongdoings were highlighted by the auditor-general and investigated by the MACC.

"Following the investigations, three individuals - a senior assistant director of Customs, a marketing manager of a private company and the principal of an Arabic secondary school in Pontian, Johor, were charged in court," Low said.

Not all criminal in nature

He said the MACC had also recommended disciplinary action against five officers of a ministry he did not want to name.

NONE The MACC, he added, had commenced 11 investigations to evaluate the tender and negotiations departments in the government.

Of that, he said, five advisories and two censures were issued and three consultations were done. Another case was closed.

However, it must be noted that not all cases highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report are criminal in nature. Some involve management weaknesses that require urgent attention by respective agencies," he said.

Low said this when replying to a question from Sim Tong Hin (DAP-Kota Melaka) who asked whether anybody has faced action or been charged for abuse of power, leakages or failure to comply with Treasury regulations in cases highlighted by the 2011 Auditor-General's Report.

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