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THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Melaka has remanded four individuals, including three public servants, over alleged involvement in a bribery scheme to protect employers of undocumented foreign workers.
Those detained include the deputy director of a government department, his wife, and two enforcement officers from the same department. All four suspects, aged between 37 and 50, have been remanded for six days until 11 January 2026.
The remand order was issued by Magistrate Sharda Shienha Mohd Suleiman following an application by the MACC.
According to a source, two of the suspects, a senior officer and an enforcement personnel, are believed to have received monthly bribes amounting to RM20,000 from employers or companies operating around Melaka between 2021 and 2025.
The payments were allegedly made in return for protecting the premises involved and for refraining from taking enforcement action against offences related to employing foreign workers without valid permits or legal documentation.
“The female suspect, who is also the wife of the senior enforcement officer, was detained after she was suspected of abetting her husband in the corrupt activities, including assisting in managing and receiving bribe payments from the employers concerned,” the source said.
Another enforcement officer is believed to have received bribes totalling RM1,950 between January and July last year from a restaurant owner, allegedly in exchange for not taking action against foreign workers employed at the premises without valid travel documents.
The source added that bribe payments to all suspects were believed to have been made in cash through hand deliveries as well as via bank account transactions.
Earlier, all four suspects were detained at the MACC Melaka office between 11.50am and 4.50pm on Monday before being transported in MACC vehicles to the Ayer Keroh Court Complex at 9am on Tuesday.
Melaka MACC director Datuk Adi Supian Shafie confirmed the arrests when contacted, saying the case was the result of joint intelligence and operational efforts with the Royal Malaysia Police. He added that investigations are being conducted under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. - January 6, 2025
