SEVEN REMANDED OVER ALLEGED BRIBERY IN FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAMME

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Seven enforcement agency officers have been remanded for three days to assist in investigations into alleged bribery involving the application process for the legalisation of foreign workers under the Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK).

The three-day remand order, which runs until Nov 15, was issued by Magistrate Izra Zulaikha Rohanuddin following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court, today.

According to sources, the suspects - four men and three women, aged between 30 and 50 - were arrested at several locations around the Klang Valley during Op Bleach, conducted by the MACC’s Intelligence Division, yesterday.

“All the suspects are believed to have accepted bribes in return for expediting applications from undocumented immigrants in the country, to become legal foreign workers under the RTK,” the sources said.

The sources added that Op Bleach is a follow-up operation by the MACC, related to the counter-setting syndicate, following earlier operations conducted under Op Rentas and Op Dygo.

Following the arrests, the MACC also seized more than RM116,000 in cash, 14 telecommunications devices, jewellery and gold bars, as well as three cars and two motorcycles, believed to have been obtained through corrupt activities.

Yesterday, the MACC reportedly arrested 11 individuals, but four of them were released on MACC bail, after their statements were recorded.

Meanwhile, MACC Intelligence Division senior director Datuk Saiful Ezral Arifin, when contacted, confirmed the remand, and said that the case is being investigated under Section 17 of the MACC Act 2009.

-- BERNAMA