MACC nabs 7 over luxury car duties syndicate

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained seven individuals on suspicion of reducing the duties on luxury cars, resulting in a loss of approximately RM33 million in customs tax.

The suspects, aged between 30 and 60, were detained between 5pm and 10.30pm yesterday when they appeared to record their statements at the Kedah MACC office.

According to sources, the suspects, believed to be customs agents, conspired with the owners of the vehicles involved by falsifying documents to obtain a reduction in customs duty assessment, even though the vehicles were not eligible for such reductions.

Magistrate Nurshahida Abdul Rahim approved for the suspects to be remanded for four days until July 17 after the MACC applied for the remand order at the Alor Setar Magistrate's Court earlier today.

It is learnt that as part of the operation conducted by the special operations division, the MACC also conducted raids at several business premises, government agency offices and residences in the Klang Valley, Kedah, Johor, Perak and Sabah.

Meanwhile, MACC special operations division senior director Tan Kang Sai, when contacted, confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.