Eighteen RTD officers to be charged in Penang

Eighteen Penang Road Transport Department (RTD) officers will be charged in the court in Butterworth over three days beginning today, but there may not be any "big fish" in the catch, MACC Chief Commissioner Latheefa Koya said.

Latheefa said six will be charged today, another six tomorrow, and the remaining six will be charged on Friday.

Asked if any "big fish" - top personnel of the RTD - would be charged, Latheefa declined to comment.

But she went on to say at a press conference in George Town yesterday evening:, "I do not know what you mean by big fish, because these days, fishes have all kinds of sizes.

"As far as the RTD case is concerned, we are dealing with many layers, officers and not so high-ranking personnel.

"This is a continuation of a series of enforcement officers being caught, this case falling under the jurisdiction of Penang MACC."

Read more: Six RTD, Apad officers charged for taking bribes from lorry companies

Asked about the challenges MACC faced in nabbing the suspects as it is a large group, Latheefa said: "We cannot comment on our operations."

Accompanying her at the state MACC headquarters on Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah was MACC operations director Azam Baki.

This is Latheefa's first visit to Penang since her appointment as MACC chief two months ago.

Since April, 68 RTD officers and personnel, two former APAD officers and nine civilians have been nabbed by MACC in a massive operation dubbed " Ops Sarat."

The suspects have allegedly taken bribes totalling more than RM80,000 since 2016, as an inducement not to act against errant lorry drivers who commit traffic offences.

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