He was among three people detained in a raid carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in the Bukit Goh area, Kuantan, yesterday.

They are suspected of being involved in corrupt practices to protect the illegal mining activities.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the other two suspects were company owners.

All of them are being investigated for soliciting and accepting bribes under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.

In a statement, Azam said the intelligence MACC gathered indicated that bauxite extraction activities at Bukit Goh were being carried out without following legal procedures. He noted that approval had only been granted for the extraction of bauxite that had already been mined before 2022.

Bribes were reportedly paid to avoid enforcement action against the illegal mining activities. MACC is still determining the total amount of bribes involved.

Azam said MACC seized more than RM26,000 in cash and three mobile phones from the suspects.

Following the raid, MACC also conducted an inspection on a bauxite storage site in Jabor, Terengganu, the same day.

Seven lorries, four excavators and a shovel loader were handed over to the Terengganu land and mines office for investigation under Section 425 of the National Land Code 1965 for illegal mining activities.

Azam said eight tipper trucks were also seized under Section 82 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 and handed over to the road transport department for carrying loads exceeding the permitted capacity during an inspection at an intersection in Gebeng.

Magistrate Wahidah Zainal Abidin granted MACC a six-day remand order until Nov 19 for the three suspects after an application was made at the Kuantan magistrates’ court this morning.

Bauxite is used in the production of aluminium.