Kota Kinabalu: Seven individuals, including four civil servants, have been remanded for three days to assist investigations into an alleged frozen chicken smuggling syndicate operating through a Sabah port.
Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin granted the remand order until Aug 15 following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly accepting or offering bribes to bypass mandatory inspections on imported frozen chicken shipments.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests and said the case was being investigated under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.
The operation, known as “Op Chick”, was carried out by the MACC Intelligence Division with the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
Ten containers containing illegally imported frozen chicken from China were seized during the operation.
Preliminary investigations found that the containers were allegedly falsely declared and allowed to bypass mandatory inspection procedures after authorities were reportedly bribed to facilitate their entry.
Three men, aged between their 30s and 50s and believed to be forwarding agents and company managers, were among those detained.
The MACC is continuing investigations to identify other individuals allegedly involved in the syndicate.
