Five people, including a director of a Sarawak broadcasting company, were arrested today as part of an investigation into money laundering, police said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the suspects, aged between 20 and 60, were detained at multiple locations in Penang and Sarawak.

“The arrests were made by Bukit Aman’s Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation Team (Amla) after intelligence reports indicated suspicious financial transactions,” he said in statement in Kuala Lumpur, on Friday.

The transactions, which allegedly took place between 2017 and September 2024, involved several bank accounts.

Authorities have frozen multiple bank accounts, seized vehicles, and confiscated documents, with assets valued at RM17.4 million.

“The modus operandi included money laundering through suspicious transactions, criminal breach of trust, tender fraud, and awarding tenders to oneself or family members,” said Razarudin.

In Kuching, a senior television executive was arrested by officers from Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department.

The man, in his 60s, was escorted to a local broadcasting station around 2pm before being taken away for questioning about an hour later.

Police sources said the man had just returned from performing umrah.

Razarudin said the investigation is ongoing and further arrests may be made. – January 10, 2025