SHAH ALAM: Seven enforcement officers and two others, including a foreigner, were remanded between five to seven days by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for soliciting over RM500,000 worth of kickbacks to get foreign work permits.
The suspects had allegedly committed the offence between 2019 and 2021.
A source close to the investigation said the suspects were arrested yesterday in two locations.
"Six enforcement officers, including several senior officers and a foreigner, were detained in Sarawak, while an enforcement officer and a local woman, who is a company owner, were detained at the Selangor MACC headquarters last night to facilitate investigations."
The source said in Sarawak, a senior officer in his 50s was arrested along with a foreigner in his 30s for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes of over RM300,000 from several people hiring foreign workers.
It was a "favour" in return for facilitating permit-related applications, which is an offence under the Immigration Act 1959/1963.
"The remand application was conducted online by magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali for the two, a senior enforcement officer and the foreign man. They were remanded six and five days, respectively, starting today," he said.
Meanwhile, Sarikei assistant registrar Frouline Aging allowed a remand application for six days until June 20 against four enforcement officers, including a senior officer, starting today.
The source said the senior officer had allegedly solicited and accepted bribes of over RM8,000 from people employing foreign workers illegally in return for facilitating applications related to foreign work permits, and for failing to take action as stated under the Immigration Act 1959/1963.
In Selangor, magistrate Mohamad Redza Azahar Rezali allowed a four-day remand application to two individuals, including an enforcement officer at the Shah Alam magistrate's court, for allegedly soliciting and accepting RM200,000 in bribes from people employing foreign workers in an unjust manner.
A woman, who was arrested, had allegedly conspired with the enforcement officer to commit the offence under the MACC Act 2009.
Sarawak MACC director Mohd Zaki Hassan confirmed the remand of all the suspects.
He said they were detained under Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009.
Under the said provision, a commercial organisation commits a criminal offence if a person associated with it gives any gratification with the intent to get or keep any business or advantage for the commercial organisation.