Arrested for firecrackers possession, they also face bribery charge
KUCHING: Two men who were arrested for having banned fireworks and firecrackers during Ops Libas here Sunday will also be charged for corruption.
During the first arrest, they were allegedly trying to buy their way out but were arrested by personnel from the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) who were part of the raiding team.
Battalion 11 of the General Operation Force (GOF) also seized an assortment of fireworks and firecrackers in a hut at the border near Serian on Sunday evening at about 6.20 pm. Total value of the firecrackers and fireworks was estimated at RM80,000.
In a press conference yesterday, Sarawak GOF Commanding Officer SAC Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said the police team had been monitoring the duo for over a month and when the time was right, an officer with 12 men and four officers from MACC raided a hut at Kpg Melayu, Serian. They waited at the house to find two men arriving. The men brought them into the hut where an assortment of the banned fireworks and firecrackers were found of which custom duties were not paid. They will be charged under Section 135(1) (D) of the Customs Act 1969.
Khaw said one of the men, aged 55, from Jalan Song asked the police to release them and he would offer them money but he was cautioned not to do so. He offered three times and the 51-year-old from Jalan Keranji, Tabuan Jaya gave RM7,000 to the officer in-charge. Both were immediately arrested under Section 17 (B) of the MACC Act 2009 for attempting to bribe the officers. The RM7,000 was seized for investigation and case exhibit.
Seized firecrackers and fireworks comprised five boxes of KT138 ground cakes, seven boxes of KT 100 ground cakes, six boxes of KT0049 ground cakes, three boxes W 0073 Happy Boom, 21 boxes of KT3930 ground cakes, four boxes of WO 26A colour flowered, eight boxes of 555555 red cover, two of boxes 0069 red cover, two boxes of 515B display shell, three boxes of W301 glow of sunset, three boxes of KT 3039B ground cakes, eight boxes of KT122 ground cakes, seven boxes of KT119 ground cakes, two boxes of 53 happy boom and one box of T6 240 magical shot.
All the seized items were brought to the GOF headquarters in Batu Kawa for investigation and further action.
