MACC arrests 17 company directors for alleged bribery in army tender cartel, with five-day remand and seized bank accounts in ongoing investigation.
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has detained 17 company directors suspected of involvement in a cartel network for army procurement tenders.
A five-day remand order until Saturday was issued by Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court.
The nine men and eight women, aged between 20 and 60, were detained on Monday night when they appeared to give statements at the MACC Putrajaya office.
Initial investigations found the suspects allegedly paid bribes to senior Malaysian Army officers to obtain supply and maintenance projects.
MACC Investigation Division senior director Datuk Zainul Darus confirmed the arrest, with the case being probed under Section 16(b) of the MACC Act 2009.
On December 29, the MACC seized six bank accounts believed to belong to a senior army officer and his family members.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said an investigation paper was opened under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
MACC officers had earlier visited the Ministry of Defence on December 23 to focus on projects procured through open tender and the Army Responsibility Centre.
