Ex-special officer to minister nabbed over RM25,000 bribe to approve citizenship

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a former special officer to a minister for allegedly asking for an RM25,000 bribe to facilitate the approval of a citizenship application.

The man, in his 40s, was detained at about 5pm on July 11 when he appeared to record his statement at the MACC headquarters.

According to sources, the suspect who is a former special officer to a minister in 2019 was said to have asked for a bribe from a local man who applied for citizenship for his child.

"He contacted the man in June over the status of the citizenship application which was made in 2015.

"The suspect informed the individual that the approval letter was with him and asked the individual to pay him RM25,000 in order to hand over the letter," the sources said.

The suspect was detained following the call by the prime minister for the MACC to investigate corrupt practices involving several officers at the National Registration Department.

Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin approved for the suspect to be remanded for three days until July 14 after the MACC applied for the remand order at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court earlier today.

Meanwhile, MACC intelligence division director Azmi Kamaruzaman, when contacted, confirmed the arrest and said the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.