An aide to one of Penang's deputy chief ministers has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over a bribery claim.

The aide is among three individuals arrested by the MACC during a sting on Jan 3. One of the three is believed to be a district officer.

According to Mingguan Malaysia, the aide had witnesssed an attempt to hand over a RM30,000 bribe by one individual to a woman.

MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali confirmed to the daily that the aide worked for one of Penang's two deputy chief ministers, but the report did not name which.

According to The Star, the sum was meant as an inducement for the woman to drop a sexual harassment complaint against a top civil servant.

The report stated that the woman, a clerk, had previously complained that a civil servant had sexually harassed her and had lodged a report with the authorities.

Following this, the civil servant allegedly sought the help of the aide who later contacted the woman to resolve the matter.

District officer nabbed?

The Star report cited a source familiar with the investigation as saying that the woman lodged a report with the MACC, which mounted a sting operation on Jan 3 at a restaurant in Seberang Jaya.

During the meeting, the aide and two others dropped off the money to the woman and asked her to sign a document promising to drop the court case.

At this point, the MACC officers moved in and arrested the trio at 11.30pm, according to The Star's source.

The Star also claimed that the aide is an office bearer of the Permatang Pauh PKR division and also helps PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in the Permatang Pauh constituency.

The aide is widely believed to be employed by Penang deputy chief minister Mansor Othman who is currently abroad and is only expected to be back later this week.

Penang PKR deputy chief Law Choo Kiang when contacted said the party was still trying to ascertain the facts behind the arrest and that Mansor was the best person to comment on the matter.