TWO officers from Johor’s Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), who were detained last night to assist in investigations into the meat syndicate, were remanded for five days, starting today.

The remand order until January 11 was issued by the Johor Baru subordinates’ court assistant registrar, Nur Izzaty Muhammad Zahari.

The remand period would allow the two suspects, aged 27 and 31, respectively, to be further investigated under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

The two, who were stationed at the Port of Tg Pelepas, Gelang Patah in Iskandar Puteri, were detained at the state MACC headquarters at about 11pm last night after they were suspected of accepting bribes for the smuggling activities.

On December 2, Maqis unearthed the activities of the syndicate, which imported meat without a halal certificate, before placing fake halal logos on the meat, for sale in the local market.

In another development, four other individuals comprising three company directors and a clerk, who were also remanded for four days in connection with the same scandal, were released on MACC bail of RM10,000 each after their remand periods ended today.

All the suspects, aged between 39 and 50, were before this remanded for four days from Monday by the magistrates’ court. – Bernama, January 7, 2021.