Four enforcement officers arrested for accepting bribes to issue driving licences without test

KOTA KINABALU - Four enforcement officers have been detained by the Sabah Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on suspicion of accepting bribes totaling about RM300,000 from driving licence candidates without them having to take a driving test.

According to a source, all four men who were in their 30s were arrested around 4pm yesterday after they were summoned to provide statements at the state MACC office.

"The suspects allegedly committed the offences in 2021 and 2022, through agents or intermediaries as payment for issuing driving licences to candidates without undergoing driving tests.

"The modus operandi employed by these enforcement officers involved soliciting and accepting bribes ranging from RM400 to RM1,200 from each candidate to obtain various class driving licences without undergoing the required driving tests," the source said.

The source added that the syndicate of producing the licences known as 'lesen terbang' (flying licence) was believed to be the cause losses to the government's revenue amounting to approximately RM1.5 million.

Meanwhile, state MACC director Datuk S.Karunanithy, when contacted, confirmed the arrests, stating that the case is being investigated under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act 2009.

"All suspects will be brought for remand purposes at the Kota Kinabalu Magistrate's Court at 9am (today)," he said.