The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Penang has detained five civil servants, including a senior officer, from several government agencies to facilitate investigations into the misappropriation of cooking gas subsidy.

State MACC director Latifah Md Yatim said the five, aged between 20 and 50, were detained separately from June 14 until today.

She said the civil servants concerned were held after the detention of three members of the public, a woman and two men, believed to be syndicate members selling subsidised gas to industrial companies recently.

"The three aged between 20 and 30, were detained in three separate raids around Nibong Tebal here," she told reporters after a workshop on the enforcement system and procedure on human trafficking, in George Town today.

Latifah said investigations found that the syndicate had long been operating and making substantial profits from the sales of the gas which was siphoned through industrial gas tanks.

"Investigations also revealed that the detained civil servants were believed to have received bribes and tried to protect the syndicate when carrying out their illegal activities," she said.

 

- Bernama