Citing a MACC source, Bernama reported that the five arrested comprised three men and two women.

“The MACC has received several complaints and information related to corrupt activities committed by bank officials who have assisted in processing and approving customers’ personal loan applications submitted through a financial consulting company,” said the source.

“These officials are believed to have received bribes from the financial consulting company, which prepared documents believed to contain false information of customers who wanted to take personal loans.”

The source added that the five suspects were arrested yesterday when they presented themselves at the MACC headquarters to give their statements.

A five-day remand order was issued until Saturday for the two men and two women while the other man will be remanded until Thursday.

When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and said that the case is being investigated under Section 16(b)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

He said that the 16 people who were previously remanded had been released on MACC bail.

Earlier today, Azam said MACC had frozen RM22 million in assets in its investigation into loan bribery involving a financial consultancy firm.

“The RM22 million involved 98 bank accounts across six banks,” he said at a press conference at the MACC headquarters.

Meanwhile, MACC deputy chief commissioner Khusairi Yahaya said 21 people had been arrested in the investigation so far, including eight company directors, 12 bank officials and a member of the public.

The agency is believed to have raided 24 locations, including residences and offices in the Klang Valley since last week, in an operation codenamed Op Sky.