PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a Myanmar national in connection with its investigation into a syndicate involved in smuggling foreign nationals into Malaysia.
A source said the 50-year-old female suspect was remanded for four days, starting today until Aug 29, following a decision by magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin at the Putrajaya magistrate's court.
The remand order was granted after an application by the MACC.
He said that the suspect was detained around midnight while providing her statement at the MACC headquarters.
This arrest follows a recent operation, Ops Pump, conducted on Aug 21 across the Klang Valley, Penang, and Kelantan.
In that operation, 11 individuals were arrested, including four company owners, three civilians, and five enforcement officers from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2.
"These arrests are part of an investigation into corruption linked to the illegal entry of foreign nationals into Malaysia," said the source.
The MACC has also seized a mobile phone from the latest detainee.
The source also confirmed that one of the earlier arrested suspects, also a Myanmar national, had his remand extended for an additional five days until Aug 29.
He said the extension was granted by assistant registrar Nadiah Abd Razak after an application was made at the Putrajaya Magistrate Court.
MACC's intelligence director Datuk Zainul Darus, when contacted, confirmed the arrests and remand extension.
The case is being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009 for the acceptance and offering of bribes.
Previously, NST reported that MACC has dismantled a syndicate involved in smuggling foreign nationals, including those from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Nepal, into the country through entry points believed to bypass official inspections.