Bury Council: Five arrested in bribe probe
Five people have been arrested by Greater Manchester Police investigating allegations two councillors were bribed over a planning application in Bury.
Police said five men aged between 45 and 69 were held on suspicion of corruption in a public office. All five were later released on bail.
Officers have also seized computers and documents from Bury Town Hall.
The force's Serious Crime Division executed warrants at addresses in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Police made the arrests in Altrincham, Greater Manchester; Kersal, Salford; Didsbury, Manchester and Bacup in Lancashire.
Police said arrests were the result of an intelligence-led operation launched in June 2011 into allegations that two councillors on Bury Council accepted bribes in relation to a planning application.
Bury Divisional Commander Ch Supt Jon Rush said: "I recognise this operation will cause some disruption at the council.
"However, the council is co-operating with the investigation and we intend to keep disruption to a minimum."
The five have been bailed pending further inquiries until a date yet to be confirmed in April, said police.