KUCHING: A man who was arrested on suspicion of smuggling subsidised diesel during ‘Ops Libas’ in Bintulu yesterday is also accused of attempting to bribe the officers involved in the operation with RM10,000.
General Operations Force (PGA) Brigade deputy commander, ACP Zahari Ahmad, said in a press statement that the 52-year-old suspect was arrested at about 7am at a private wharf in Sungai Nyigu.
During inspection, which also involved Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers, he allegedly offered the bribe to avoid legal action against him.
A total of of 21,000 litres of diesel worth about RM192,000 were found in the vessel, which was berthed at the wharf.
“The suspect failed to show any permit or valid document for the diesel storage,” said Zahari, adding that the vessel and the diesel were seized under Control of Supplies Act 1961.
The seized items had been handed to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism, while the suspect was handed over to MACC for further action.
Preliminary investigation indicated the diesel was bought from local fishermen in the area and the stock was meant to be sold to logging companies and factories in Bintulu.
