The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested the acting chief executive officer of a government-linked firm.

In a statement, MACC said the 58-year-old suspect, a "Datuk", was arrested at his house in Tropicana Indah, Petaling Jaya, while a second suspect, a 36-year-old international sales manager at the same GLC, was picked up at Jalan Kelang Lama. 

The duo, who were picked up in an operation dubbed "Ops Guinea", are suspected of being involved in corrupt practices and abuse of power with regard to an e-passport project of a country in the African region.

Both suspects had allegedly solicited bribes between 2013 and 2015 from the owner of a private overseas-based firm.

The GLC purportedly signed a contract with that country for a 15-year period to prepare for the implementation of the e-passport facility.

It is learned that both suspects have worked in the GLC for about seven years and are alleged to have taken close to RM500,000 in bribes in Euro and US dollar denominations.

MACC has frozen several accounts belonging to the "Datuk", his wife and their son, containing some RM1 million. 

MACC investigations director Simi Abd Ghani said the commission takes this case seriously as the GLC is said to be in possession of confidential information related to the country. 

Both men are expected to be remanded tomorrow. 

Another officer nabbed

In another development, Bernama reported that a ministry assistant enforcement officer has been remanded for six days in relation to corruption involving subsidised rice quota.

The 57-year-old suspect was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya last night, where he was called in for questioning.

A source told Bernama that MACC found RM10,113 in a safe in his office whereas RM51,000 was found in his car.

The suspect is believed to have accepted bribes amounting to RM468,000 in stages form a rice wholesaler in order for the latter to be accorded the quota “Super Tempatan 15 (ST15) peratus hancur”.

According the source, the arrest was a follow-up to the recent detention of a ministry secretary-general.