Kota kinabalu: Four individuals, including a former native affairs officer and a civil servant, have been remanded for seven days to assist investigations into a land sale syndicate involving about RM900,000 in bribes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the remand order, which runs until August 27, was issued by Magistrate Flavian Edward Henry at the Magistrate's Court following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sabah. The former native affairs officer and civil servant are believed to have received bribes from two land brokers to facilitate the sale transaction last year.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the land involved in the transaction belonged to another individual and had never been offered for sale. All four male suspects, aged between their 30s and 60s, were arrested between 4 pm and 8 pm on August 19 when they appeared to give statements at the MACC Keningau office.

MACC Sabah director Datuk Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah, when contacted, confirmed the arrest of all the individuals to assist further investigations. He stated that the case is being investigated under Sections 17 and 18 of the MACC Act 2009.