PETALING JAYA (THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Three people linked with agencies in the special task force probing the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy have been arrested to assist in police investigations involving Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the latest police action was also in connection with the "leaking of official government information that was misused by certain parties".

In a statement issued Saturday evening, he named the three as former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory board member Tan Sri Rashpal Singh Jeswant Singh, Attorney-General's Chambers finance and anti-money laundering secretariat member Jessica Gurmeet Kaur Nashattar Singh and MACC deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi.

Khalid said they were detained following several police reports made against Brown.

"The police have recorded statements from the three individuals regarding Brown's report which contains defamatory elements," he added.

Khalid said a few officials from Bank Negara Malaysia and commercial banks would also be called to cooperate in police investigations. The three were arrested early Saturday.