According to sources, the MACC today discovered several safe deposit boxes belonging to the suspect and seized about 8kg worth of gold valued at RM1.6 million, and RM1 million cash, including A$80,000.

“We also seized a Toyota Estima (multi-purpose vehicle) owned by the suspect’s son from his house in Subang Jaya,” said the source.

“The suspect and his family had more than 10 plots of land in the Klang Valley registered in the family name,” it said, adding that the value of the land had yet to be determined. It was also not known if these were acquired through illicit means.

The source said the MACC was liaising with the Inland Revenue Board to find out if the suspect had paid taxes since 2010.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki said no new arrests were made, but more witnesses would be sought to assist in the probe.

The Star Online named the suspect as Mohd Arif Ab Rahman, secretary-general of the rural and regional development ministry.

On Wednesday, the MACC arrested a man said to be a senior government official at his home in USJ3, Subang Jaya, just as he was leaving for work. The man’s two sons were arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya subsequent to being called in for questioning.

The Star Online said Azam had confirmed that his officers had arrested the serving rural and regional development ministry secretary-general.

The MACC officers’ initial search of the suspect’s house lasted 12 hours and yielded gold bars, branded watches and foreign currencies worth RM3 million.

They also seized 150 luxury designer handbags by Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The prices of the bags ranged from RM7,000 to RM100,000 each.