PUTRAJAYA: Two enforcement agency officers stationed at the Malaysian High Commission in Bangladesh have been remanded, with 20 bank accounts and properties valued at more than RM3mil frozen and seized as graft busters probe allegations of corruption.
It is learnt that a directive was issued at the end of March for the two officers – a man and a woman – to return to Malaysia following claims of corruption in the issuance of visas and the entry of tourists and workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.
Sources said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had traced several “suspicious financial transactions” involving accounts belonging to the two suspects.
“This was why they were ordered to return to Malaysia,” said a source with knowledge of the investigation.
The two who were arrested are members of Malaysia’s Immigration Department and were previously stationed at the Malaysian Immigration Attaché at the mission in Bangladesh for a short time, the Foreign Ministry clarified later.
Their arrest comes just days after two aides of Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar were held over investigations into foreign worker recruitment.
Sivakumar himself has also been questioned by the MACC.
Sources said that the two officers had only served in Bangladesh for between nine and 15 months.
It is learnt that 20 accounts belonging to the suspects, as well as several companies, had been frozen.
Sources said eight plots of land were also seized.
Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin allowed for the suspects to be remanded for three days until yesterday. They have since been released.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, who confirmed the matter, did not rule out the possibility of more arrests being made.
He said that investigators were tracking the whereabouts of an individual, identified as Siti Liyana Sajikan, to help in the investigation.
Siti Liyana, 21, has her last known address at 51, Jalan Hjh Jamrah, Kg Seri Desa, 86100, Ayer Hitam, Johor. Those who know or have information on the said individual are urged to contact investigation officer Jayaraj Rajan at 016-637 1082.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry said it would fully cooperate in the investigations, saying it took seriously the integrity of its staff members stationed in high commissions in foreign countries.
It said swift action would be taken in any cases of corruption.
