ARRESTED: 4 WHO POSED AS MACC OFFICERS AND SOLICITED RM2m BRIBE
KUALA LUMPUR: Graft-busters have arrested four men, who posed as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers, for allegedly soliciting a RM2 million bribe from a “Datuk Seri”.
It is understood that the “Datuk Seri” is a member of parliament, who had allegedly enjoyed commissions from government projects worth billions of ringgit under the previous Barisan Nasional regime, as reported in the New Straits Times’ front-page report on Friday.
Sources familiar with the investigation said three of the suspects, aged between 33 and 49, were picked up at a golf club in Sungai Buloh near here at 3pm on Friday.
“The fourth suspect, aged 37, was arrested at his home in Wangsa Maju at 8.15pm,” a source told the New Sunday Times.
Seven mobile phones, documents and RM48,350 in cash were seized.
“The suspects’ alleged crime came to light following a report lodged by the victim,” a source said.
All four suspects have been remanded for six days until Thursday to facilitate investigation.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests.
The case, he said, was being investigated under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 for soliciting a bribe, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of RM10,000, or five times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
NST reported that MACC was zooming in on the Datuk Seri’s alleged involvement as a middleman in projects valued at more than RM3 billion carried out by the previous government.
Sources said graft-busters were looking into 10 projects under the Finance Ministry.
The member of parliament, the sources said, enjoyed between eight and 10 per cent commission on the value of each project and made millions of ringgit from underhanded deals.
“There are corrupt elements surrounding these projects. Some are believed to be listed in the infamous ‘MoF Red Files’.”