PUTRAJAYA, Jan 6 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has remanded 17 company directors suspected of being involved in a cartel network for the Malaysian Army procurement tenders.
It said the five-day remand order until Saturday (January 10) was issued by Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah after an application was made at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court this morning.
“All suspects, consisting of nine men and eight women aged between 20 and 60, were detained between 8.30pm and 11.30pm yesterday when they appeared to give statements at the MACC Putrajaya office.
“Initial investigations found that all suspects were believed to have paid bribes to senior officers of the Malaysian Army (TDM) in return for obtaining supply and maintenance projects with TDM,” the MACC said in a statement on TikTok.
When contacted, Investigation Division senior director Datuk Zainul Darus confirmed the arrest and said the case is being investigated under Section 16(b) of the MACC Act 2009.
Last Monday (December 29), the MACC seized six bank accounts believed to belong to a senior Army officer and his family members to assist in the investigation into a corruption case involving the procurement of Malaysian Army projects.
Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said an investigation paper had been opened under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 in relation to the case.
On December 23, MACC officers visited the Defence Ministry and focused on projects implemented through open-tender procurement and procurement under the Army Responsibility Centre (PTJ).
