After viral gambling den video, MACC nabs four MBSA officers on bribery claims
After a viral video that exposed alleged double standards in enforcement against unlicensed businesses around Sungai Buloh, MACC operations in the area today nabbed four Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) officers accused of accepting bribes from business owners.
According to sources, the three officers aged between 41 and 49 were arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya this morning, following operations which also saw the arrest of an undocumented migrant who ran a contraband cigarettes shop...
After a viral video that exposed alleged double standards in enforcement against unlicensed businesses around Sungai Buloh, MACC operations in the area today nabbed four Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) officers accused of accepting bribes from business owners.
According to sources, three officers aged between 41 and 49 were arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya this morning, following operations which also saw the arrest of an undocumented migrant who ran a contraband cigarettes shop.
A fourth officer, who is 39 years old, was arrested also at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 5pm when he turned up to give his statement.
Three of the officers were attached to MBSA's Sungai Buloh branch while another was based in Shah Alam.
Sources said all four officers arrested were believed to have received between RM300 and RM3,500 in bribes a month from each business premises, including unlicensed food stalls, contraband cigarettes shops and gambling outlets.
There were also those whose role was to sabotage planned operations by leaking information to the business owners.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests and described it as a bribe collecting syndicate among enforcement officers.
The arrests follow a viral Facebook video by an owner of a burger stall chain who drove around Sungai Buloh to point out the authorities' alleged inaction against gambling dens in the area.
The owner, who goes by the name "Asri Janggut" on Facebook, also claimed reports he made to the police about the gambling dens were later leaked back to its operators.
Following his stunt, Asri (above, left) yesterday reportedly met with Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin and Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.
On a related matter, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said a task force had been formed to tackle illegal gambling activities in the city.
"We are very serious in curbing illegal gambling in the city and the task force will focus on five main areas - Cheras, Sentul, Dang Wangi, Brickfields, and Wangsa Maju.
"We will also look into illegal online betting," he was quoted as saying by The Star.
"Sometimes, the premises will resume their vice activities even after being raided and the public stops giving us information.
"If we receive intelligence of these illegal activities, we will definitely take action again," he said in urging the public with information to come forward and assist the police.
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