MACC detains senior Customs officer over links to illegal bauxite mining (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Nine staff of the Pahang Land and Mines Department (LMD) and a senior Royal Customs Department officer were detained in a massive operation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today for allegedly being involved in illegal mining of bauxite in Kuantan.
The MACC also raided the Kuantan Port, Pahang LMD and Royal Customs Department offices and seized documents relevant to the case.
Also seized were 18 lorries laden with bauxite which was mined at illegal mines at Bukit Goh and Bukit Sagu.
On launching the operation past midnight, the investigators arrested a 56-year-old senior customs officer at an undisclosed location in Kuantan.
His arrest led to the detention of nine staff of the Pahang LMD aged between 29 and 59 in Kuantan at about 3.30pm.
The detained customs officer was remanded for seven days at the Kuantan Magistrates Court today while similar action is expected to be taken on the LMD staff tomorrow.
Sources said the raid was launched after the MACC learnt that illegal bauxite mining was rampant despite a moratorium on such mining until year end was issued by the state government.
MACC intelligence unit director Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahya when contacted today said the commission had carried out surveillance on the syndicate's activities several months prior to launching the operation.