Syndicate that pocketed RM400mil siphoning diesel since 2012 busted

MACC’s special operations unit and tactical squad raided an oil depot for fishermen in Sibu, Sarawak, and arrested the five suspects. (MACC pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has busted a syndicate in Sibu, Sarawak, which smuggled subsidized diesel overseas and paid off enforcement officers to keep their operation going.

MACC chief Azam Baki said the misappropriated diesel was meant for fishermen and the syndicate had been operating since 2012 and is believed to have pocketed RM400 million since then.

“The syndicate is believed to have transferred the diesel from tankers designated for fishermen into barges docked at an oil depot for fishermen in Sungai Bidut, Sibu.

“The diesel in the barges is then transferred at night into foreign ships owned by the purchasers, to prevent the authorities from sniffing them out,” he said in a statement.

A raid on the depot by MACC’s special operations unit and tactical squad, along with officers from the domestic trade and cost of living, led to the arrests of five people and 1.6 million liters in diesel being seized.

Also confiscated were two barges docked at the depot, 30 oil tanks and RM3.7 million in cash.

Azam said the barges were loaded with a total of 260,000 liters of diesel.

The suspects – three men and two women aged between 30 and 60 – were into custody after giving a statement to MACC officers at about 4pm today.

The MACC chief said four of the suspects operated the oil depot while the fifth is believed to have acted as the middleman liaising with the foreigners who bought the diesel.

Azam said the suspects, who will be remanded tomorrow, are being investigated under the MACC Act 2009, the Control of Supplies Act 1961, and Section 471 of the Penal Code for using forged documents.