![Three men have been arrested over corruption involving Securency International. [ABC]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201010/r652213_4595025.jpg "Three men have been arrested over corruption involving Securency International. [ABC]")
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Three men have been arrested over corruption involving Securency International. [ABC]
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Malaysia's anti-corruption agency says it has arrested three people over an Australian banknote supply contract scandal, as an international probe into the case deepened.
Two men were arrested in Britain on Wednesday (local time) after Australian, British and Spanish police carried out coordinated swoops over alleged corruption involving the banknote manufacturers, Securency International.
Securency is embroiled in a long-running investigation over claims its agents offered bribes to officials in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nigeria to win contracts.
The firm is part-owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the trio were arrested last month after claims emerged the Melbourne-based firm offered bribes to officials in Malaysia.
"I can only confirm that the MACC has arrested three persons to assist in the investigation. We arrested them about a month ago," MACC investigation director Mustafar Ali said.
The arrests were not reported previously.
Mr Mustafar said the three were released after being held for questioning and none of them have been charged in court yet.
He declined to elaborate on their alleged role in the scandal.
He also declined to confirm whether the trio included a businessman who, according to reports, paid $US3.7 million to lobby Malaysia's central bank and government officials to use the polymer banknotes.
He says the investigation is ongoing and is drawing to its final stages.
Two men were arrested in Britain on Wednesday (local time) after Australian, British and Spanish police carried out coordinated swoops over alleged corruption involving the banknote manufacturers, Securency International.
Securency is embroiled in a long-running investigation over claims its agents offered bribes to officials in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nigeria to win contracts.
The firm is part-owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the trio were arrested last month after claims emerged the Melbourne-based firm offered bribes to officials in Malaysia.
"I can only confirm that the MACC has arrested three persons to assist in the investigation. We arrested them about a month ago," MACC investigation director Mustafar Ali said.
The arrests were not reported previously.
Mr Mustafar said the three were released after being held for questioning and none of them have been charged in court yet.
He declined to elaborate on their alleged role in the scandal.
He also declined to confirm whether the trio included a businessman who, according to reports, paid $US3.7 million to lobby Malaysia's central bank and government officials to use the polymer banknotes.
He says the investigation is ongoing and is drawing to its final stages.
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