KOTA KINABALU: A senior assistant director of a Sabah government department has been apprehended by the state Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly soliciting RM10,000 from a civilian to expedite a land offer letter issuance involving smallholders.

       The 54-year-old man was detained at his office by MACC personnel at 3pm on Tuesday (March 1).

       The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 (commercial organisations can be considered guilty if employees or associates commit corruption), said Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy in confirming the arrest.

       Application for the suspect’s remand to assist investigations will be made on Wednesday (March 2), and there are likely more follow up arrests in connection to the case, he added.