SANDAKAN: A woman and her daughter have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for their suspected involvement in the issuance of IMM13 visa for refugees from the Philippines.
Sources said both suspects, in their 50s and 30s, were detained when they were summoned to have their statements recorded at the MACC office here at about 7pm yesterday.
"Both mother and daughter are believed to have acted as intermediaries in managing the extension of IMM 13 visit pass applications for refugees from the Philippines who sought refuge in Sabah due to the unrest in the early 1970s.
"Preliminary investigations found that both suspects are believed to have been involved in the act since 2022, involving bribes amounting to approximately RM20,000."
It is also learned that the MACC has obtained a seven-day-long remand order against the suspects to facilitate the investigation into the case.
Meanwhile, Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 for accepting gratification by an agent.
Karunanithy also did not rule out the possibility of further arrests following the arrest of the two suspects.