KOTA KINABALU: An administrative assistant has been detained by the Sabah Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on suspicion of accepting a RM20,000 bribe.

       The man, in his 40s, is an N22 government servant and is believed to have solicited the bribe from a company doing boat works at a port in Kota Kinabalu two years ago.

       State MACC director S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrest and said the suspect was detained at the Sabah MACC office here at 9am on Thursday (July 8).

       He said the suspect will be investigated under Section 165 of the Penal Code and charged at the special corruption court here on Friday (July 9).

       In a separate case in Tawau, the MACC also arrested a local lorry driver for allegedly offering a RM1,000 bribe to the police.

       The money was said to be in return for the release of the suspect's younger stepbrother, who was held for gambling at a cockfight.

       The suspect, in his late 40s, was arrested around 1am on Thursday by the MACC's Tawau branch at the Tawau district police station.

       Karunanithy also confirmed the arrest, adding that the man is being investigated under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.

       "The suspect has been released under MACC bail and will be charged at the Tawau special corruption court soon," he added.