PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been granted its application to extend the remand period of a 49-year-old bookie being investigated in a football match-fixing probe.

Three players from Malaysian Premier League outfit MISC-MIFA, who have been remanded since April 6, have been released on MACC bail.

Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Wan Ab Rahman extended the remand of the bookie by another five days. His initial six-day remand would have expired Wednesday.

The three MISC-MIFA players who have been released on bail are a 29-year-old Argentine defender, as well as two Malaysians, a 26-year-old goalkeeper and 27-year-old defender.

Based on its initial investigation, the MACC alleged that the players received bribes of between RM10,000 and RM30,000 from bookies to influence the outcome of MISC-MIFA’s matches in the Premier League and the FA Cup this year.

These include a Feb 14 FA Cup match in which MISC-MIFA lost 6-3 to Sarawak and a March 3 Premier League match where the team were defeated 7-2 by UiTM FC.

MISC-MIFA is co-owned by the Malaysian Indian Sports Council (MISC) and the Malaysian Indian Football Association (MIFA).

The team was promoted to the Premier League this year after winning last year’s FAM Cup, the third-tier competition in the Malaysian League.

The case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act for bribery.-thestar