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THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Penang has arrested six more individuals, comprising four police officers, a serving police corporal and a retired policeman, over allegations of accepting bribes worth about RM150,000 to protect illegal business activities.
A magistrate granted a five-day remand order from Wednesday until Jan 18 after the MACC filed an application at the Magistrates’ Court here. The order was issued by Magistrate Shyahirah Abdul Salim.
According to a source, the suspects, aged between their 40s and 60s, were arrested while giving statements at the Penang MACC office between 11am and 5pm on Tuesday.
“All of them were detained to assist investigations into soliciting and receiving bribes totalling about RM150,000 in exchange for not taking action against owners of entertainment outlets, massage parlours and illegal gambling operations that had breached the law.
“Initial investigations indicate that the offences were allegedly committed between 2016 and 2021, with bribes ranging from RM500 to RM2,000 received monthly,” the source said.
Investigators believe the bribe money was channelled through online fund transfers into third-party accounts belonging to licensed moneylending companies and human health service providers, allegedly to conceal the true source of the funds.
Earlier, the suspects, comprising four officers with the rank of Assistant Superintendent, a serving sergeant and a retired policeman whose last rank was sergeant, were brought to the court complex at about 9am in handcuffs and wearing MACC lock-up attire.
Lawyer K Mahendaran represented a 46-year-old ASP suspect, while A Mahesh acted for another ASP aged 45. The remaining four suspects were represented by lawyers from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Penang MACC director Datuk Karunanithy Y Subbiah confirmed the arrests when contacted, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects detained so far to seven, following the arrest on Tuesday of another ASP who is alleged to have solicited and received bribes amounting to about RM27,000. - January 14, 2026
