JOHOR BARU – Two officers from the state’s Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), detained last night to assist in investigations into the frozen meat cartel case that erupted early last month, were remanded for five days starting today.
The remand order until January 11 was issued by Johor Baru subordinate courts’ assistant registrar Nur Izzaty Muhammad Zahari after allowing the remand applications by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The remand period will allow the two suspects, aged 27 and 31, to be further investigated under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act 2009.
The two, who were stationed at the Tg Pelepas port in Gelang Patah, Iskandar Puteri, near here, were detained at the state MACC headquarters about 11pm yesterday after they were suspected of accepting bribes for the smuggling activities.
On December 2, Maqis unearthed the cartel's activities, which was smuggling in frozen meat without a halal certificate and placing fake halal logos on the products for sale in the local market.
Meanwhile, four other individuals, comprising three company directors and a clerk, who had also been remanded four days in connection with the same scandal, were released on RM10,000 bail each after their remand periods ended today.
The suspects, aged between 39 and 50, were remanded for four days starting last Monday by the magistrates' court here. – Bernama, January 7, 2021
