IPOH, March 14 — The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is digging deeper into procurement malpractices at the Royal Malaysian Navy's Lumut base to determine the extent of such activities.
Malay Mail understands that MACC is wants to find out if more navy personnel were involved in the multi-million ringgit scandal.
An MACC source said the commission was expected to cast its net wider as it believed more people could have been involved.
The source said there was a likelihood that the six navy staff under remand had accomplices at the naval base.
“With many staff (working at the procurement section) there is a likelihood there are others who had been involved in these corrupt practices.”
The source said the investigation on six navy personnel and nine civilians was expected to lead to more arrests.
Malay Mail had earlier reported MACC's concern that certain documents pertaining to the illegal transactions could either be hidden or destroyed.
These include false or exaggerated claims and banking transactions.
Asked if MACC was looking at nabbing big fish, the source said the commission was not discounting any possibility.
“Nothing is precluded. If there are higher-ranking officers involved, we will nab them. However, such a move hinges on the outcome of our investigations.”
Among the six navy staff remanded until Monday are a husband and wife who are lieutenant-commanders. The couple worked in different sections at the naval base.
The MACC arrested five navy personnel, including a woman officer, and nine civilians on Monday evening for alleged involvement in the scandal.
This was followed by the arrest of another officer, the husband to the woman officer, on Wednesday.
The scandal came to light when it was discovered that some navy staff were living beyond their means by accumulating assets, including properties and expensive items such as luxury watches and cars.
