The Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court has granted the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) a four-day remand to investigate a reporter over alleged bribery claims involving RM20,000.
In a statement, the MACC confirmed the reporter was detained around 11pm on suspicion of soliciting and receiving bribes in exchange for retracting an article and ceasing further reports on a foreign worker agency, allegedly linked to a syndicate.
“Magistrate Beveniyah R Jothi issued the remand order until 4 March 2025 following an application by the MACC at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court this morning,” the statement read.
The MACC did not disclose the name of the news portal or the journalist. However, Malaysiakini later confirmed that its reporter, B Nantha Kumar, was detained last night.
MACC chief Azam Baki alleged that the journalist initially solicited RM100,000 from the agent in exchange for not publishing two articles concerning the agency, before settling on RM20,000.
“The agent reported the matter to MACC, leading to a ‘trap case’ operation. The agent met the journalist at Concorde Hotel in Shah Alam, where the cash was handed over. MACC officers then arrested the journalist on the spot with the RM20,000,” he said.
Nantha, who has been with Malaysiakini since 2018, has recently written extensively on immigration syndicates, including those linked to the Immigration Department.
On 22 February, Malaysiakini cited a source alleging that a former immigration officer, now holding the title of “Datuk,” is the mastermind behind a cartel operating at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).