18 detained in Malaysia’s Ops Middleman, RM12.48mil suspected corrupt transactions uncovered.

PUTRAJAYA: A corruption network allegedly greasing the wheels of overloaded lorries has been smashed, with 18 individuals — including Road Transport Department (RTD) enforcement officers and traffic policemen — detained in a sweeping joint operation dubbed Ops Middleman.

The arrests, carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in collaboration with the RTD, targeted a syndicate of “tontos” or middlemen believed to have facilitated bribes to enforcement officers to allow heavy vehicles carrying loads exceeding the legally permitted weight limit to operate on public roads.

MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said those detained comprised four RTD officers, four traffic policemen, two company owners, seven alleged tontos and one individual identified as a mule account holder.

“In total, 18 individuals have been detained to assist in investigations, and we have opened separate investigation papers for each of them,” Azam told a press conference at MACC headquarters yesterday.

Ops Middleman was launched on Feb 24 following a three-month intelligence-gathering exercise.

The MACC worked closely with RTD after the department mounted large-scale crackdowns on overloaded lorries last year, resulting in numerous arrests and penalties.

“From RTD’s enforcement actions, certain information was gathered and shared with MACC.

“Based on that intelligence, we focused on the issue of bribery involving tontos who paid enforcement officers to facilitate illegal activities, including allowing overloaded lorries to operate on public roads,” he said.

The operation spanned Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, focusing on individuals whose names had appeared on a shared watchlist.

Prior to the arrests, the MACC conducted surveillance to track the suspects’ movements and trace financial flows into company accounts.

Investigations into the alleged tontos are being carried out under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009, while enforcement officers are being probed under Section 17(a) of the same Act for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes.

Azam revealed that 25 vehicles, estimated to be worth RM2.5 million, were seized.

“We believe these vehicles are linked to the proceeds of corruption based on our financial analysis and investigation findings.

“In addition to cash, jewellery estimated at RM40,000, 27 mobile phones valued at about RM81,000 and 41 walkie-talkies worth approximately RM14,760 were also confiscated.

“The communication devices were believed to have been used by tontos to coordinate movements and alert one another of enforcement activities.”

The MACC has also frozen 59 bank accounts involving RM4,692,280.

The accounts belong to individuals and companies suspected of being linked to the network.

Overall, the value of seizures and frozen assets amounts to RM7,692,465.

Azam disclosed that investigators have identified approximately RM12.48 million in suspected corrupt transactions.

“Our focus now is to trace where the money has been channelled. We are examining the financial trail to establish the full extent of the network.”

He acknowledged that tackling tonto activities was not new, describing it as a long-standing issue.

“This problem has existed for decades. The modus operandi may change, and the amounts involved may increase, but the core activity remains the same — middlemen offering and paying bribes to enforcement officers.”

Azam stressed that corruption could not occur unilaterally.

“Bribery does not happen on one side alone. There must be both a giver and a receiver.

In this case, the tontos acted as facilitators, offering bribes on behalf of certain companies to ensure enforcement officers turned a blind eye.”

He added that investigations would be widened to include companies believed to have financed the middlemen.

Owners of lorry companies and other relevant parties will be called in to assist in completing the probe, he added.

While acknowledging that the sums per transaction were relatively small —
sometimes less than RM1,000 — Azam said the payments were made repeatedly.

“Although each transaction may not be large, when done continuously and systematically, it becomes significant.”

The MACC expects to complete investigations within a month before submitting the papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

“We will pursue firm action against all parties involved. Any assets recovered will undergo the legal process for forfeiture.”

 The Sun Malaysia