Kuala Lumpur, 18 September 2025 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has widened its investigation into a syndicate allegedly facilitating illegal entry of foreigners, now extending scrutiny to the financial affairs of family members and close associates of the officers previously arrested in the “counter-setting” case. The move aims to trace the money trail behind the corruption scheme, which preliminary findings suggest involves luxury assets, unexplained wealth, and everyday business operations tied to the suspects.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki announced that the probe will require those connected to the arrested individuals to declare their assets. Notices will be issued to assess how suspects and their associates acquired luxury cars, businesses, gold shops, or large sums of cash — and whether these assets were funded legitimately. The matter is being handled under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).
The expanded investigation follows the arrest of 27 people on 10 September under Ops Rentas, including 18 enforcement officers, in operations across Selangor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Negeri Sembilan. The syndicate, MACC alleges, accepted bribes ranging from RM1,800 to RM2,500 per foreign national entry, sometimes routed through mule accounts, resulting in suspect incomes of RM10,000 to RM50,000 monthly based on volume of entries processed.
Azam said that while the money trail is not overly complex — the case does not involve complex corporate structures — MACC is nonetheless pursuing full transparency. Any individual linked to the suspects will potentially be treated as a witness or further investigated. Although no new arrests have been made as of the latest update, officials have not ruled out additional detentions as evidence emerges.
