A PROMINENT massage parlour chain being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is believed to be paying RM2.7 million a year to officers from several enforcement agencies as protection money.
The latest investigation led to the arrest of five more individuals involving four enforcement officers and a retired enforcement agency officer on suspicion of corruption.
Four of them were remanded for four days until February 2 after Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah granted the MACC's remand application at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court this morning.
According to sources, before that, the five male suspects, aged between 30 and 60, were detained at the MACC Headquarters, Putrajaya when they appeared to give statements around 5 to 7 pm yesterday.
"One of the suspects was released on MACC bail, while the other four were brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court for a remand application.
"All the suspects are suspected of receiving bribes from the massage parlour business company to start their operations and facilitate the company's foreign worker permit process.
“To date, MACC has taken statements from 16 witnesses to assist in the investigation,” said the source.
The source said that following the investigation, MACC had also conducted searches at six locations in the Klang Valley involving the offices and residences of the identified suspects.
He said that MACC had also taken action to freeze 124 banking accounts belonging to individuals and companies involving a value of approximately RM13.3 million
“This massage centre chain is believed to use a two-tier accounting system where 80 percent of cash sales are not reported, causing an estimated tax leakage of RM7.56 million per year.
Meanwhile, MACC Special Operations Division Senior Director, Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin when contacted confirmed the arrest and said the case was being investigated under Sections 16 and 17 of the MACC Act 2009.
He said that the investigation was also analysing and identifying elements under other criminal offences, particularly under money laundering activities. – January 30, 2026
