According to a source, the suspects, aged between 30 and 50, were detained at the Melaka MACC office between 11.50am and 4.50pm yesterday.

Two of the enforcement officers are believed to have received monthly bribes from employers or companies in Melaka in exchange for protecting their premises and refraining from taking action against them for hiring undocumented migrant workers and those without valid work permits.

“The wife of one of the enforcement officers was also detained on suspicion of abetting her husband in the corrupt activities by assisting in managing and receiving bribes from the employers involved.

“The bribes are believed to have been made in cash through hand-to-hand transactions as well as through bank account transfers,” the source said.

The third enforcement officer was also detained for allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes from a restaurant manager in Melaka in exchange for not taking action against foreign workers employed at the premises without valid travel documents early last year.

All four suspects were remanded for six days from today until Jan 11 on an order issued by magistrate Sharda Shienha Suleiman at the Ayer Keroh magistrates’ court.

When contacted, Melaka MACC director Adi Supian Shafie confirmed the arrests and said the case was the result of joint intelligence and cooperation with the police.

The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.