Kota Kinabalu: Seven individuals, including four civil servants, have been remanded for three days to assist in investigations into an illegal 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 Kota Kinabalu Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning.
The suspects are believed to be involved in bribery to bypass mandatory authority inspections for imported frozen chicken shipments.
The arrests followed a joint operation codenamed 'Op Chick' conducted on Tuesday by the MACC Intelligence Division, the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services, and the Sabah Royal Malaysian Customs Department, which led to the seizure of 10 containers containing frozen chicken allegedly imported illegally from China and Poland.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests and remands, stating that the case is being investigated under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.
