KUANTAN: It was an alleged illicit arrangement between a Jerantut Forestry Department officer and four others that facilitated illegal logging in Jerantut district, causing the Pahang government to lose millions of ringgit since 2015. It came to an end when they were detained at their homes and workplace in Jerantut yesterday, and broguth before a magistrate at the Kuantan Courts Complex here today to be remanded as part of a graft probe. The five, clad in bright orange Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) lockup uniform, covered their faces with their hands as they were escorted by MACC officers to the remand hearing. “They are suspected of being involved in receiving and giving bribes linked to illegal logging, which led to losses of millions of ringgit (for the state government),” he said, adding that the remand ended on Sunday. Yesterday, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the arrests, which took place in Pahang and Terengganu, where the commission picked up four others over suspected graft linked to illegal logging.

Source: New Strait Times September 12, 2017 06:01 UTC