KOTA KINABALU: Graft busters are investigating possible links between the police and an online gambling syndicate that was uncovered in Tawau on Tuesday (June 22).

       Investigators from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) recorded statements from at least three policemen attached with the CID unit of the Tawau district police headquarters, according to sources.

       Their statements were recorded following the arrest of three local suspects - a 42-year-old man and two women aged 23 and 57 - when investigating officers from the state MACC raided the premises on Monday (June 21).

       The raiding team also confiscated some RM40,000 in cash from the premises and froze RM300,000 in four bank accounts of the main suspect.

       The money frozen is believed to be linked to the gambling activities, the sources said.

       It is learned that the suspects from the syndicate were being investigated for allegedly paying bribes to encourage "enforcement" officials to look the other way.

       Sources said that they believe that the syndicate has been in operations for over a year.

       However, Sabah MACC director S. Karunanithy declined to reveal anything on the ongoing investigations, but confirmed that they were investigating the suspects for bribery as well as for money laundering under the Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001.

       On Tuesday, Tawau Magistrate Mohd Ahmad Yasser Hussin allowed for an application to have the three suspects remanded for seven days from June 21 to 27.

       MACC prosecuting officer Mohd Ahmad Yasser Hussin applied for the remand order, while the three suspects were unrepresented.