KUALA LUMPUR: A company director has been detained by graft busters over a corruption case linked to the expedited processing of citizenship confirmation applications.
The suspect, in his 50s, has been remanded until Sunday (May 11).
The remand order was granted by Magistrate Datin Kunasundary Marimuthu at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on Friday (May 9).
Sources said the suspect was detained at 4.55pm on Thursday (May 8) when he was at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters giving his statement.
"The suspect is believed to have conspired with several other individuals to give bribes between RM1,000 and RM30,000 to an officer of a department, for every citizenship application since 2023.
"The bribes were meant to expedite the applications of foreigners in obtaining Malaysian citizenship without going through proper procedures," sources said.
Meanwhile, when contacted, MACC senior director (Intelligence division) Datuk Idris Zaharudin confirmed the arrest and said the case was being investigated under Section 17 of the MACC Act 2009.
"The latest arrest was made following Ops Fastlane 1.0 and Ops Outlander conducted since March 11, involving a syndicate, which bribed government officers to expedite citizenship application process," he said.
Earlier, three individuals, including two senior Home Ministry officers, who were detained over the same case, have been released on bail after their statements were taken, sources said.
Sources said among those detained were a man with a Datuk title, who served in the ministry and a woman who worked as a secretary.
"They were not remanded but released on MACC bail after giving their statements.
"However, they can be called up again to assist the investigation if needed," sources said.
It was reported that two Home Ministry officers have been detained over a corruption case linked to the expedited processing of citizenship confirmation applications.
A civilian was also arrested during an operation in Putrajaya, the MACC has confirmed.
The three individuals, aged between 50 and 65, were arrested between 1pm and 5pm on Wednesday, following information received on the case.
“This operation is a continuation of MACC’s recent Ops Outlander and the Home Ministry has extended its full cooperation,” the statement said.
All three suspects are now getting their statements recorded at the MACC headquarters.
Under Ops Outlander and Ops Birth, the MACC arrested 16 people, with ages ranging from 20s to 70s, on March 11.
They were suspected of involvement in corruption related to the late registration of births for non-citizens as citizens, and birth registrations using forged supporting documents.
