Demotion or sack for three MACC ‘robbers’

KUALA LUMPUR: The three senior Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers who allegedly robbed money changers of some RM1 million cash at KLIA airport could be demoted or sacked.

The MACC said today that the three officers would face disciplinary action as an internal inquiry on them has been completed.

“The disciplinary board which met today had decided that the three had committed a serious offence, which violates Regulation 37 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993,” it said in a press statement.

Under Regulation 37, a public officer can be dismissed if he has committed an offence that carries a criminal conviction. Other lesser punishments could also be meted out.

MACC said that its internal probe and decision would not affect the ongoing police investigations into the case.

FMT had reported that the trio, including an assistant commissioner, was arrested after allegedly extorting and robbing three money changers of almost RM1 million on Sept 15. Their remand has been extended for another three days yesterday.

Following the incident, MACC had relieved them of their active duties, stripped them of any investigative power, and transferred them to its administrative division.

The alleged victims were said to be money changers from Singapore who were at the KLIA to board a flight back home. They were carrying foreign currencies amounting to about RM2 million which they had declared to the customs authorities.

Five men, who who identified as themselves as MACC officers, confronted the money changers and demanded money from them. When they refused, the officers took the victims to a toilet and forcefully took the money totalling US$300,000.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar said police have recovered the loot taken by three, but declined to confirm the amount.

“Investigations are proceeding smoothly and there are still some issues which need to be resolved, including tracking down the two men who are believed to be linked to the case,” he said at a function here today.