The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia) has detained four individuals, including two lecturers from a private higher education institution in northern Malaysia, over allegations of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to around RM5 million.
The arrests were carried out at the MACC office in Perak between 2pm and 5pm on Tuesday, also involving a company officer from an oil firm and a 40-something engineering company director.
Sources said the alleged payments were linked to efforts to secure research-related projects and involved the misappropriation of research funds belonging to the private university. The case is believed to span activities between 2019 and 2025.
Investigators further alleged that the company officer and engineering director acted as proxies for the two lecturers in facilitating and receiving the funds. It is also understood that the money was received both in cash and through bank transfers into personal accounts.
Following the arrests, MACC has frozen 70 bank accounts with a combined balance of approximately RM8.5 million and seized seven vehicles to assist ongoing investigations.
MACC Senior Director of Intelligence Saiful Ezral Arifin confirmed the arrests when contacted, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
All suspects are expected to be brought before the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court for remand applications on Wednesday.
