MACC Detains Another 13 Puspakom Vehicle Inspectors

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained another 13  Puspakom vehicle inspectors. The total number of arrests now stands at 19 Puspakom officers, one agent, and two runners.
All of the male suspects, who were between the ages of 20 and 40, were believed to have accepted financial bribes from runners ranging from RM150 to RM1,500 per month in exchange for assisting in passing vehicle inspections at their place of employment.

“The arrest of all the suspects follows the arrest of six vehicle inspection officers last Monday and also the result of interrogation conducted by the MACC on an agent who was handed over by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) earlier,” said a source. Meanwhile, the MACC's investigations into vehicle inspection syndicates would be broadened to encompass additional inspection centres nationally, rather than only Kuala Lumpur, according to MACC head commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, as reported by the New Straits Times. “Based on our collaboration with the road transport department (JPJ) and Puspakom, we will look into other inspection centres in the country as well,” Azam said. “Our goal is to eliminate corruption at the inspection centres Our investigations lead us to believe that the first suspect, who was handed over to us by [the JPJ], is the mastermind of the operations. We do not rule out the possibility that more arrests will be made to facilitate investigations,” he continued.

Photo: NST.

The 13 arrested inspection officials would be freed on MACC bail after investigations, according to MACC deputy chief commissioner of operations Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, who confirmed the arrests and stated that the case was being probed under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.