According to sources, the suspects, aged between 38 and 65, were arrested at the agency’s headquarters in Putrajaya yesterday after having their statements recorded.

The suspects are a company’s managing director and general manager, while another two are directors of another company.

One of the suspects, the 65-year-old managing director, is said to have acted as a middleman by soliciting and accepting bribes from two company directors, aided by the general manager.

“The managing director is alleged to have asked for around 3% to 5% of the total value of the projects as a kickback for helping the company get the projects under the special government programme.

“It involves road construction and upgrading projects in the southern part of the country,” the source said.

Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin allowed all four suspects to be placed under remand for six days, starting today until Jan 16.

The agency’s senior director of the special operations division Tan Kang Sai confirmed the arrests and said that the case was being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 for soliciting and accepting bribes.