The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 34 people, including 24 government staff and two aides of politicians, for alleged graft in sand export.

NONE The total bribe involves more than RM280,000 and sex. The arrests were made in five states over the past week.

MACC deputy chief commissioner Shukri Abdull revealed this during a press conference at the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya.

He said MACC has been investigating the case since April last year, after being tipped off by a member of the public.

Shukri added that the government officials arrested included senior officers and heads of department, although he refrained from naming the departments as there are arrests pending.

When asked for their profiles, he said that higher ranking officials, might be involved but declined to reveal if any of them were politicians.

Shukri remained tightlipped when asked if the political aide arrested was Hussein Ahmad, the aide to Selangor exco Yaakob Sapari hauled up earlier today.

"Hussein has not been released yet as we still need to record his statement," he said.

Monthly bribes

Shukri added that the individuals involved in the sand syndicate received RM500 to RM50,000 each, with some receiving monthly bribes. Three individuals also received sexual favours.

"The bribes were given to hasten applications for sand and to not report incidences of sand smuggling to a neighbouring country," he said, refusing to name the country.

The MACC also confiscated a total amount of RM50,000 from the individuals and documents supporting the investigations.

The individuals will be charged under Section 16 of the MACC Act for receiving bribe in the form of cash, goods or sexual favours.

One was charged in Perak yesterday, and has been sentenced to five months jail and an RM30,000 fine after pleading guilty.

Shukri said Hussein had resisted being detained by MACC and only relented after a discussion between the latter and Hussein's lawyer which lasted for about two hours.

He asked for the public to cooperate with the MACC.

"You will not lose anything by cooperating with the MACC, because we are not acting to get any sort of reward. We are only doing this to combat corruption and to ensure that state governments do not lose out on revenue," he said.

He added that the state governments are estimated to have lost "millions of ringgit" from this sand smuggling case.

MACC officers raid S'gor exco's office