GEORGE TOWN: Another three people, including two doctors, have been remanded over a probe into a cartel accused of falsifying Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) disability claims.
Sources said the three — an orthopaedic surgeon, a medical officer and the agent head — aged between 32 and 50, were detained yesterday during an operation.
"As for the agent head, we remanded his father yesterday," the source said.
The three arrived at the magistrate's court at 8.54am in a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) van.
Clad in orange MACC attire, they were handcuffed as they were led to the courtroom, drawing attention from curious onlookers.
Magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin ordered the trio to be remanded for four days.
They are being investigated under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
The trio's arrests brought to 36 the total number of individuals remanded in connection to the disability fraud.
Speaking to the New Straits Times later, lawyer S. Yagoo, who appeared for the surgeon, said he had asked the court to only allow a one-day remand order of his client as he had been cooperative with the authorities.
"He is still in service and of no flight risk.
"Also, he is unwell and has seven children to look after.
"The MACC had requested for a one-week remand order but the court allowed four days instead," he added.
Yesterday, 33 people, including three senior doctors and a woman, were remanded over their alleged links to the cartel accused of falsifying Perkeso disability claims.
The doctors were remanded for two days, while the woman was held for one day.
The remaining suspects were remanded for three days.
Besides the three doctors, others remanded included 19 Perkeso contributors, eight agents, and three runners, all aged between 26 and 60.
Following the arrest of the 33, MACC seized cash, jewellery, two luxury handbags, luxury vehicles, 33 mobile phones and other valuables worth RM500,000 from some of them.
Initial investigations also indicated that the total amount of bribes involved to be RM2 million.
The suspects were believed to have colluded with agents or runners and the medical officers from public and private hospitals to submit fake documents for permanent disability claims to Perkeso.