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THE journalist from online media portal, Malaysiakini, who was remanded for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a foreign worker agent will be released today.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed this with the New Straits Times today.
"We will release him today afternoon," Azam said in a brief response.
The MACC had earlier obtained a four-day remand order for investigations over alleged bribery claims involving RM20,000.
It said it had detained this reporter over suspicion of soliciting and receiving bribes of around RM20,000 in exchange for retracting an uploaded article and not to further write about a foreign worker agency.
The agency was alleged to be part of a syndicate.
MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki had confirmed the reporter’s detention and said around RM20,000 cash had been seized, and that the case is being investigated under the MACC Act 2009’s Section 16(a)(A).
Section 16(a)(A) covers the offence of soliciting or receiving or agreeing to receive bribes as an inducement or reward for doing or not doing certain actions, and can be punished upon conviction with a maximum jail term of 20 years, and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the sum of the bribe, whichever is higher.
Released safely
Malaysiakini has confirmed that B. Nantha Kumar was released this afternoon after four days under remand.
He stepped out from Putrajaya MACC headquarters around 3pm in good condition.
The journalist has worked with Malaysiakini for seven years and has written extensively about immigration syndicates, including those involving the Immigration Department.
In its Editor's Note, the portal said Nantha joined Malaysiakini in 2018 and has been an outstanding journalist. – March 4, 2025