Customs Department now has own special unit to probe officers suspected of corruption

BANGI: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has set up a special internal investigative branch to probe officers suspected to be involved in bribery.

Customs director- general Datuk Seri T. Subromaniam said the unit which as been in force since Jan 2, was a proactive step for JKDM to ensure that the standards of compliance and integrity of its officers was at the proper level.

The special branch has 27 officers, all selected to carry out investigations on fellow officers suspected of corrupt activities.

Subromaniam said the 27 officers, many of whom were young officers, were screened carefully.

They have been authorised to investigate their fellow officers regardless of their rank and directly send reports to the Customs director-general.

He said that the branch would focus and investigate cases involving syndicates who received internal assistance from JKDM officers.

“I admit there is an issue of integrity, corruption and abuse of power in JDKM because this department is big with more than than 14,000 staff members and the establishment of the branch would help strengthen the integrity level of JKDM members,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Subromaniam said the provision of Section 137 of the Customs Act 1967 authorises customs officers to investigate any customs officer suspected to be involved in graft.

Any officer found guilty can be jailed for not more than five years or fined maximum of RM500,000 or both, he said. — Bernama