RTD deputy director among 6 remanded

GEORGE TOWN: Six individuals, including a state Road Transport Department (RTD) deputy director, are in remand for between four and five days for investigation into corruption cases, involving insurance claims, issuance of driving licence and settlement of traffic summonses.

The five others are a RTD assistant superintendent in Perak, two insurance agents, a clerk at an insurance company and a finance clerk at a police headquarters here.

The remand orders were issued by George Town Sessions Court/Criminal Magistrate’s Court assistant registrar Muna Maria Azmi following a request by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

She ordered the suspects to be in remand for five days, except for the finance clerk, whose remand order expires this Saturday.

They were arrested at separate locations yesterday in an operation code-named Ops Tutup.

All of them are being investigated under Section 16 (a) (B) of the MACC Act 2009.

Meanwhile in Shah Alam, two RTD personnel were yesterday remanded for six days starting to assist in a corruption investigation on the issuance of international driving licence not according to procedures.

Also remanded was a driving school operator in Damansara near here.

The remanded order for all suspects aged between 30 and 40 was issued by Magistrate Shazali Hidayat Shariff to enable investigations to be conducted under section 16 (a) (B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which carries a maximum of 20 years jail and fine five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000 which ever is higher on conviction.

According to an MACC source, the transactions were believed to have taken place between 2015 and 2017 when both JPJ employees were working at the Bintulu licensing division in Sarawak.

Both suspects who are now stationed at JPJ branch in Miri, Sarawak and Seremban, Negri Sembilan were picked up at 2.30pm yesterday to give their statements at the Selangor MACC office.

“Based on initial investigations, the driving school owner acted as a tout to look for individuals especially foreigners interested in getting driving licence fast without going through the procedures of the authorities.

“Each international driving licence issued by the two JPJ employees will be charged between RM3,000 to RM5,000,” said the source.

The source added that investigation was still being carried out to find out the amount of commission received by the two JPJ personnel for each licence issued. — Bernama