MIRI: The police raided three retail shops in different locations here on Wednesday to check on goods for which duty had not been paid and arrested three traders who tried to bribe them.
Miri General Operations Force Battalion 12 commanding officer Supt Tan Hiap Seng said yesterday the traders, aged 30, 43 and 46, were picked up at the retail outlets in Desa Indah, Jalan Maigold Senadin and Quadruplex Permyjaya.
He also said that various brands of cigarettes and alcoholic drinks valued at RM421,150 on which duty had not been paid were seized at the three shops.
The traders failed to produce documented proof of having paid duty on the goods, he said in a statement.
Tan said that in the first raid, at Desa Indah at 10.55 am, the police seized 650 cartons of cigarettes and 24 boxes of alcoholic drinks of various brands valued at RM138,180.
A 30-year-old trader at the outlet offered a bribe of RM1,500 to the policemen, he added.
Tan said that in the second raid, at Jalan Maigold Senadin at 11.10 am, the police seized 1,000 cartons of cigarettes of various brands valued at RM97,000.
A 46-year-old trader there offered a bribe of RM1,000 to the policemen, he added.
He said that in the third raid, at the Quadruplex Permyjaya at 12.45 pm, a 43-year-old trader offered a bribe of RM1,000 after the police seized 168 cans and 18 cartons of alcoholic drinks valued at RM185,970.
‘The traders insisted on offering the bribes despite being warned several times not to do so,” he said.
Tan said the traders were handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Miri and the seized goods were handed over to the Customs Department.
