Most Perlis graft suspects are govt staff
KANGAR: Ninety-three per cent of arrests made in connection with bribery in Perlis this year involved civil servants.
State Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director Yaacop Angah said 23 of the 31 cases handed over to the deputy public prosecutor were investigated for false claims under section 18 of the MACC Act.
“Up until July 20, we received 111 tip-offs on alleged bribery offences and 35 investigation papers have been opened.
“Thirty-one arrests have been made and 29 of them are civil servants from enforcement agencies, such as Customs Department, National Border Security Agency and National Anti-Drugs Agency.
“Of the total, 23 are being investigated for false claims, seven for soliciting and accepting bribes and one suspect is believed to be an accomplice in a bribery case,” he said during the Perlis MACC open house at its headquarters here yesterday.
Yaacop reminded the public, especially civil servants, that making false claims, such as fabricating accommodation or mileage claims, were considered an offence under bribery.
He expressed his disappointment that most civil servants arrested for such offences this year were those who had served in the public sector for a long time and there was one case involving a man who was a year away from retirement. Perlis Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission director (third from right)
in Kangar yesterday. Pic by Eizairi Shamsudin
He cautioned the public that any involvement in transactions with the knowledge that the money in question was a bribe, would qualify them as an accomplice, and they would be subjected to punishments similar to those soliciting and accepting bribes.
Yaacop urged the public to channel any information related to corruption or bribery to the authorities
instead of posting it on social media.
He said by posting the information on social media, those involved could destroy evidence.
On the other hand, he said, if the information was channelled to the authorities, such as the commission directly, swift action could be taken and chances of arresting suspects would be higher.
Data showed that information channelled to Perlis MACC from sources, such as phone calls, letters, in person or through the commission’s personnel and officers, had shown an increase every year.
In 2014, MACC received 84 reports.
Last year, 104 reports were received, while for the past seven months, 111 reports were lodged.