The MACC will call the Penang Road Transport Department director and top management to assist in corruption investigations involving department officers if it is deemed necessary.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki said Penang RTD senior officers suspected of involvement in the case would be called in only after the process of recording statements from the 23 officers in detention has been completed.

“We will collect evidence and obtain verification, and if necessary, we will call RTD Penang senior officers pertaining to this case.

“They (the Penang RTD director and top management) will usually be called after we are done with recording statements from all detained RTD officers,” he said.

Azam (below) said this in a press conference after officiating a shooting competition between the corporate communication units of enforcement agencies, held at the Kajang Prison College shooting range.

He added that a further 22 Penang RTD enforcement officers had been called this week to provide statements to facilitate the investigations.

Read more: Lorry protection racket - another 22 RTD officers nabbed

The MACC had on Tuesday detained 31 individuals, including 23 Penang RTD officers, for allegedly protecting lorry drivers who flouted traffic laws in the state.

The case is being investigated under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act 2009.

An MACC source had said the officers, bearing ranks between grade 19 and 32, were believed to have received monthly payments of between RM10,000 and RM32,000 as inducement for not taking action against the lorry drivers involved, and for leaking information on RTD operations before they were held.

- Bernama