KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a company director for an alleged bribe of approximately RM17,000 to a government ministry official to expedite the disbursement of some RM600 million in poultry and egg subsidy claims since May this year.
Sources said the director in his 40s, who is also the president of a poultry farming association in Subang Jaya, was detained around 6.30pm yesterday while giving his statement at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
Sources also said that for the past five months since May, subsidy payments amounting to RM600 million had been disbursed, involving over 300 poultry farming companies producing broiler chickens and layer hens nationwide.
Also detained together with the director was a male employee in his 30s.
Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin approved the remand of the suspect for three days starting today until Sunday after MACC filed a remand application at the Putrajaya magistrate's court today.
However, another suspect was released on bail.
Meanwhile, MACC senior investigation director Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed the arrest and stated that the case was being investigated under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.