PUTRAJAYA (Nov 4): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested three individuals, including a Datuk, for allegedly offering about RM1 million in bribes to police personnel.

A source said a company owner with the title of Datuk, along with two women, comprising a tuition teacher and a marketing executive in their 30s to 50s, were arrested at about 4pm on Sunday at separate locations in Putrajaya, Selangor and Johor.

"All the suspects are believed to have offered bribes to several police officers and rank-and-file members in exchange for protection and to avoid enforcement action against illegal cigarette smuggling activities in East Coast states and the Klang Valley.

"Preliminary investigations found that all the suspects allegedly conspired to commit the offences from 2020 until now," the source said.

The source said all the suspects were believed to have acted as intermediaries and handed over bribes to police personnel.

The MACC, through its intelligence division and in cooperation with police, had raided several locations, including the suspects' office premises and residences.

"In the operation, the MACC seized four luxury vehicles worth about RM600,000, four mobile phones and a laptop.

"The MACC has also frozen 20 personal bank accounts and nine company bank accounts involving a total of about RM1.5 million," the source said.

All the suspects will be remanded until Thursday after Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah allowed the MACC's application at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on Monday.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.

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