KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested three individuals, including an officer and two low-ranking members of an enforcement agency, for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes of RM20,000 in exchange for dropping a fraud case.
According to sources, the trio have been remanded to facilitate investigation into the case.
Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rahanuddin yesterday granted the MACC's application to remand one of the three suspects, a male enforcement officer in his 30s, for five days until July 15.
Today, Magistrate Learani Augustine granted the MACC's application to remand the two other suspects arrested in the case.
The male officer, in his 30s, has been remanded for three days until Sunday (July 14), while a female enforcement officer in her 20s was remanded for two days until tomorrow (July 13).
"Initial investigations revealed that the complainant met with the officer to secure the release of his wife, who had been detained on July 8 on suspicion of involvement in a fraud case.
"However, the officer instructed the complainant to negotiate with another enforcement officer acting as an intermediary, through whom he was asked to provide approximately RM20,000.
Sources said following the instruction, the complainant made an advance payment of about RM20,000 in two transactions to the said enforcement officer, which was believed to be intended for sharing among the officer and another enforcement officer.
All three individuals were arrested during an operation conducted in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur from 6pm on Wednesday to midnight on Thursday.
Kuala Lumpur MACC director Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Husin when contacted confirmed the arrests and said that the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.