KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested four more bank officers in connection with its probe into corruptly approved bank loans.
This brings the number of arrests related to the probe to 16.
Known as Op Sky, the operation is led by MACC's Anti-Money Laundering Division and also involves Bank Negara Malaysia.
So far, 24 locations, including homes and offices in the Klang Valley, have been raided.
MACC has also frozen 70 bank accounts containing RM16.2 million. Nine vehicles of various brands were also seized, including a Ferrari F8 Spider, Lexus RC300, Mercedes-Benz GLC43, BMW, Toyota Alphard, Mazda, and Honda.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the latest arrests but declined further comment.
Yesterday, Azam said MACC had identified at least 16 more people, including staff of banks and financial consultancy firms, to be hauled up as part of Op Sky.
Meanwhile, a source revealed that MACC will seek a remand order for the four bank officers.
The source said seven of the 12 people previously arrested would be released today.
Among those arrested are two directors of financial consultancy firms, a foundation director, a bank manager, and a former sales manager from a bank.
Earlier this week, it was reported that nearly RM700 million in bank loans had been approved for public servants who later became entangled in a syndicate offering financial assistance.
It is understood that the loans were approved over an almost five-year period, starting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Previously, Azam said preliminary investigations revealed that some bank officers had accepted bribes from financial consultancy firm officials in exchange for processing and approving personal loans for clients with outstanding debts.
The bank officers involved identified public servants with overdue debts and introduced them to financial consultancy firms offering loan schemes.
The consultancy firms allegedly assisted by submitting falsified documents to various financial institutions to secure loans.
Once the loans were approved, the firms advanced funds to borrowers to settle their debts, and the borrowers repaid the advance. The remaining loan amount was then invested in an investment scheme.