IPOH, June 17 -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has secured remand orders for 13 individuals, including a current and former director of a government agency, following allegations of a RM2.5 million bribery scheme involving public contracts.

Operating within northern Peninsular Malaysia, the group allegedly solicited kickbacks from contractors to ensure projects were funnelled to specific companies controlled by cartel agents. This system allowed the syndicate to monopolise both direct-negotiation and quotation-based projects awarded by the agency

Magistrate Anis Hanini Abdullah granted the remand orders at the Ipoh Magistrate's Court yesterday, NST reported.

Three suspects, including two civil servants and a company d...