Penang DCM's aide nabbed by MACC

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

According to Mingguan Malaysia, the aide had witnesssed an attempt to hand 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. The civil servant was charged in court several months ago.

Following this, the civil servant allegedly sought the help from the aide who later contacted the woman.

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.

According to Kwong Wah Daily, a serving district officer was among those nabbed.

The Star also claim 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.

At the time of writing, Malaysiakini is still attempting to obtain comments from the said deputy chief minister.