MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said those arrested will be issued notices under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009, Harian Metro reported.
He said the anti-graft agency’s investigations would also focus on tracing and confiscating assets acquired through criminal proceeds.
“At present, investigations are ongoing to gather evidence for charges under Sections 16 and 17 of the MACC Act, as well as the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001,” he was quoted as saying.
On Sept 18, the immigration department was reported to have uncovered a cartel in which senior officers recruit new staff for corrupt practices at the country’s entry points through counter setting in exchange for lucrative rewards.
The practice is believed to have existed since counter-setting activities were first detected in the department in 2017, with new officers who refused to comply with the group’s instructions facing boycott and isolation.
MACC was previously reported to have said that a senior immigration officer was found to possess nearly RM1.5 million in assets, with over RM1 million in Tabung Haji accounts held under his name as well as those of his wife and children. He also had over RM400,000 in an Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) account.
The immigration department recently dismissed 20 officers who were involved in counter-setting activities, with another 227 currently being investigated for similar offences.
MACC had also arrested 18 enforcement agency officers in Selangor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan on suspicion of being involved in a counter-setting syndicate.
Various luxury items were seized following the arrests. These items include about 3.2kg of jewellery worth RM1.6 million and 75 pieces of gold with an estimated value of RM400,000 from six individuals.
The anti-graft agency had frozen 57 bank accounts with more than RM2.7 million linked to the syndicate.
Last Wednesday, the anti-graft agency remanded 12 more individuals, including seven enforcement officers, in Johor, on suspicion of being involved in a counter-setting syndicate to facilitate the entry of Indonesian nationals into the country.