THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained seven individuals on suspicion of reducing the duties on luxury cars, resulting in a loss of approximately RM33 mil in customs tax.
The suspects, aged between 30 and 60, were detained between 5pm and 10.30pm yesterday when they appeared to record their statements at the Kedah MACC office, a source told an online portal. They are believed to be custom agents.
They allegedly conspired with the owners of the vehicles involved by falsifying documents to obtain a reduction in customs duty assessment, even though the vehicles were not eligible for such reductions.
The MACC conducted the operation in response to the Auditor General’s Report 2022 (LKAN 2022) which highlighted the issue of under-collection of customs duties on Langkawi Island from 2012 to 2021.
The special operation is called ‘Op Eagle’ and found that there was a syndicate conniving with luxury car owners who wanted exemptions and reductions in customs duties even though they were ineligible.
“LKAN 2022 mentions that there is a leakage of more than RM72 mil in customs duty collection involving more than 100 luxury vehicles of various brands including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, McLaren and Rolls Royce,” the source said on Saturday (Jan 13) to Astro Awani.
The MACC also conducted raids at several business premises, government agency offices, and residences in the Klang Valley, Kedah, Johor, Perak and Sabah. – Jan 14, 2023
