PUTRAJAYA: Six members of a syndicate responsible for RM33mil in losses to the government are expected to be charged over the next two days.

       The suspects are believed to have illegally reduced duties to be paid for luxury cars in Langkawi.

       Those to be charged include the operators of warehouse facilities where the cars were stored.

       They are expected to face 21 charges at the Alor Setar Sessions Court on Monday and Tuesday.

       It was earlier reported that graft investigators had carried out a special operation after the Audit Report 2022 highlighted shortages in Langkawi Customs Department’s duty collection between 2012 to 2021.

       According to the report, there was a leakage of more than RM72mil in duty collection, involving 100 luxury cars of makes such as Bentley, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche.

       Acting on the report, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) carried out a special operation codenamed ‘Ops Eagle.’

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       Investigators found the syndicate working in cohort with luxury cars buyers who wanted exemption or to pay lower duties despite them being ineligible.

       MACC special operations division senior director Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman confirmed the suspects will be charged.

       He added that the owners of the luxury cars involved in this case are also being investigated.