Three nabbed for impersonating MACC officers, demanding money
NST
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested three individuals – including a mother of five – in two separate operations, for allegedly impersonating MACC officers.
The trio is believed to have posed as MACC officers offering to solve corruption and money laundering cases in exchange for money.
An MACC source said they were arrested in Sepang and Malacca, today and yesterday.
"In the first arrest at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2, two men, aged 49 and 61, were detained at 3pm.
"The suspects are believed to have deceived a man, claiming that he was being investigated by the MACC for involvement in an offence under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The suspects asked RM20,000 from the victim to close the case.
"(Following the arrest) the MACC seized cash amounting to RM10,000 and three mobile phones from the suspects," the source said.
In the second arrest in Alor Gajah, the MACC detained a 36-year-old woman at 1.30pm for claiming she was an MACC officer based at the Putrajaya headquarters.
The single mother of five had apparently contacted several individuals, claiming that the MACC had opened investigation papers on them.
"She also claimed that she could assist with the cases, and asked for between RM5,000 and RM20,000 on behalf of MACC’s higher-ranking officers to close the cases.
"The victims (eventually discovered) that the woman is not an MACC officer and that the files and investigation papers (presented to them) were fabricated," the source said.
The source added that the woman had targetted officers holding important posts in government departments nationwide.
It was discovered that the woman has a criminal record, with offenses under Section 420, 417 and 468 of the Penal Code, and had been blacklisted by the police.
The MACC is also hunting down an accomplice who is on the loose.
The two men were remanded for five days and the woman was remanded for six days starting today.
The remand order was issued by magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Wan Ab. Rahman at the Putrajaya magistrate’s court.
They are being investigated under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
MACC investigation director Datuk Simi Abd Ghani confirmed the arrest.
