KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has remanded another suspect over his alleged involvement with a syndicate which had manipulated the distribution of the quota of flights for agencies providing 'umrah' services.
Sources said the 35-year-old male suspect, who is also the managing director of a tourism agency in Selangor, was arrested about 3.30pm yesterday (Saturday) when he showed up to give his statement at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
A four-day remand order starting today was issued by Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin, after the MACC made an application at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court this morning.
Sources said the suspect, the seventh in the case, was believed to have bribed the first and second suspects who were previously remanded for helping his travel agent secure 'umrah' flight tickets.
The source said MACC had already summoned several witnesses from related companies and did not rule out the possibility of calling even more to assist the investigation.
The source said MACC also confiscated cash amounting to RM160,000, mobile phones and several laptops used by the suspect.
"They are in the midst of freezing certain accounts, especially stock trust investment accounts belonging to the suspect's wife, ex-wife and children.
"MACC's investigation is focusing on corruption among company officials who are the sole agents of foreign airlines.
"Initial investigation found that there was no element of wrongdoing by the company (sole agent) but the officers working under the company were the ones who had manipulated the sale of tickets through "commissions" requested from other travel companies for their own benefit.
"The investigation also found that the company had completed the sale of tickets based on the quota agreed upon and set by the relevant foreign airline.
"Therefore, there is no concern about the reduction of the existing quota given by the Saudi Arabian government to the foreign airlines because the sole agent company had always succeeded in fulfilling the ticket quota as allocated," he added.
Meanwhile, MACC Special Operations Division Senior Director, Datuk Tan Kang Sai confirmed the arrest and remand, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 16 (a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Last Friday, MACC had uncovered a syndicate manipulating the allocation of flight seat quotas for umrah service provider agencies by asking for bribes allegedly in the form of commissions.
Sources said a total of six people aged between 34 and 55 who were arrested by the MACC had consisted of directors and staff of tourism companies.