In what appeared to be a major operation, the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has detained the head of a government department and six others to facilitate investigations into the issuance of visas for foreign workers.

aca anti corruption agency and money and investigate At a press conference today, ACA investigations director Shukri Abdull said that the director-general of government department, who is a Datuk, was detained last night at his house in Damansara.

He would be one of the most senior civil servants to be held for questioning.

As for the other six, those detained include businessmen involved in the supply of foreign labour to local companies. Three of them have Datuk titles.

Some RM500,000 in cash and visas were also seized from various people. The seven are being investigated under Section 11(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

Although the ACA did not disclose any names, Bernama reported that the person arrested is a senior official of the Immigration Department.

Remand order

It is learnt that a four-day remand order was obtained at the Kajang court for the director-general.

"Those detained in this case are held to assist in a case pertaining to bribes for the issuance of visas for foreign workers," said Shukri.

He said the ACA acted based on tip-offs from the public and they have since obtained remand orders for all seven individuals.

The issuance of visas for foreign workers falls under the purview of the Immigration Department.