MACC has arrested three men, including a political activist, in Kedah for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes from a celebrity preacher, who is also a tahfiz school headmaster.

The Alor Setar Magistrate’s Court issued a four-day remand order on the trio to facilitate investigations.

The political activist is said to be a supporter of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

According to an MACC source, the suspects, aged between 30 and 50, were detained between noon and 5pm yesterday during an operation in Bedong and at the Kedah MACC office in Alor Setar.

The suspects allegedly sought the bribe to assist in resolving a money laundering case involving the preacher, which is under police investigation.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects conspired to demand RM150,000 but only received RM20,000 in cash from the preacher,” the source told Bernama.

‘I got framed’

Kedah MACC director Ahmad Nizam Ismail confirmed the arrests.

The case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

In a video sighted by Malaysiakini, the political activist claimed he was framed.

“I will fight this. It’s a lie and I got framed. I will be lodging a police report,” he said while being escorted by MACC officers.

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