Govt agency director among 13 nabbed in RM2.5mil graft probe

PETALING JAYA: Thirteen people, including a director and a former director of a government agency up north, have been arrested for allegedly soliciting and accepting about RM2.5 million in bribes from contractors.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the suspects – 10 men and three women ranging from their 30s to 60s – comprised eight civil servants and five civilians who also own companies.

MACC said the bribes were allegedly paid as inducements to allow a cartel of companies controlled by agents to “monopolise” the government agency’s contracts.

In a statement, the anti-graft agency said the suspects were believed to have acted in concert between 2024 and 2026.

“Contractors who were arrested claimed they had to pay bribes to middlemen, to be channelled to the director and former director of the government agency,” it said.

The suspects were arrested between 8pm and 11pm on Monday when they turned up to have their statements recorded at the Perak MACC office.

Three suspects – two civil servants and a company director – were remanded until today, while the other 10 are under remand until Saturday.

MACC also raided 25 locations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, and Perak on Monday, including homes, offices, and government premises.

Investigators seized about RM1.5 million in cash, a luxury watch, two vehicles, a high-powered motorcycle, and jewellery worth about RM1 million.