According to a source, the man in his 40s was arrested at the Sarawak MACC office at around 6.20pm after he was called in for questioning today.

“The suspect is believed to have received bribes from the syndicate in exchange for not taking enforcement action and legal measures against the diesel smuggling activities in Sibu,” said the source.

MACC special operations division senior director Azmi Kamaruzaman confirmed the arrest when contacted.

MACC also arrested and remanded an enforcement assistant in Kuching on suspicion of receiving bribes from the smugglers.

An MACC source said the man, in his 40s, has been remanded for six days till Sept 2 after being arrested at the Sarawak MACC office at 3.25pm yesterday when he showed up to give his statement.

The arrest follows Ops Litre conducted by MACC’s special operations division on a diesel storage depot in Sungai Bidut, Sibu, on Sunday.

Three men and two women were arrested in the raid on Sunday for their suspected involvement in misappropriating subsidised diesel meant for fishermen.

Two barges, several tanks containing 1.6 million litres of diesel, and RM3.7 million were seized.