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Jan 21, 2010

Sand smuggling : 34 held



The suspects allegedly received bribes totalling RM280,000 ringgit (S$116,000) to facilitate illegal sand mining and smuggling to a neighbouring country, an official said. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S national graft-fighting watchdog arrested scores of government employees and business officials for allegedly accepting bribes and sexual favours to help smuggle sand out of the country, an official said on Thursday. The crackdown is the latest bid by the government's Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to repair its reputation, which took a big hit last year when an opposition activist died under mysterious circumstances after being interrogated by anti-graft officials. Opposition leaders have accused the commission of using brutality against suspects and failing to successfully investigate corruption cases. The commission's new chairman took over Jan 1 and pledged to restore its credibility. Commission officers have arrested 34 people - including political aides, civil servants and business officials - since Tuesday in a crackdown on illegal sand mining and smuggling in several states, a commission official said on condition of anonymity because she was not authorised to make public statements. The suspects allegedly received bribes totalling RM280,000 ringgit (S$116,000) to facilitate illegal sand mining and smuggling to a neighbouring country, the official said. Some also allegedly received 'sexual favours', the official said without elaborating. The suspects could be charged with bribery, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, the commission official said. Further arrests are expected. - AP