Two private university lecturers among four arrested for allegedly soliciting RM5 million in bribes linked to research fund embezzlement.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested four individuals, including two private university lecturers, for allegedly soliciting and receiving approximately RM5 million in bribes.
An MACC source said the two lecturers, an oil company officer, and an engineering company director were arrested at the Perak MACC office.
They are believed to have solicited bribes to help several companies secure research projects and were involved in embezzling university research funds.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the activities were conducted between 2019 and 2025,” the source told Bernama.
The officer and company director are believed to have acted as proxies for the lecturers to receive the illicit funds.
All suspects are believed to have conspired, with the lecturers allegedly receiving bribes in cash and via bank transfers.
The MACC has frozen 70 bank accounts with a total balance of about RM8.5 million and seized seven vehicles for further investigation.
MACC Intelligence Division senior director Datuk Saiful Ezral Arifin confirmed the arrests.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
The suspects will be taken to the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court for a remand application.