MACC arrests three, including two senior Padang Besar Immigration officer

The Kedah branch of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained three men, two senior Padang Besar immigration officers and a contractor over alleged corruption involving more than RM20 million.

Its director Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohamad said the three suspects were detained in two separate raids, in Perlis and Alor Setar between 10am and 11am today.

"The two senior officers were detained for allegedly accepting bribes from the contractor for unauthorised approval of expatriate passes for skilled and professional workers, and have so far approved 339 applications for 18,626 passes.

"Each individual paid about RM1,500 to get their passes approved," he told a press conference here .

He added that to date, they had also five luxury vehicles and a high-powered motorcycles, branded watches and handbags valued at RM1.0 million and frozen a fixed deposit account mounting to almost RM1 million.

The case is being investigated under Section 17 (a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which provides for a jail sentence of up to 20 years and fine of five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

The three suspects were taken to the Alor Setar Court this morning for a remand order to be issued on them.

Sessions Court Assistant Registrar Wan Nor Fadzilah Wan Ibrahim allowed the three suspects to be remanded for a week beginning today to allow the MACC to conduct a detailed investigation.

-- BERNAMA