3 doctors among 33 remanded in false Socso claims probe
Published on: Wednesday, September 04, 2024
By: FMT
The 33 suspects, believed to be part of a cartel involved in falsifying Socso disability claims, were arrested in an operation lasting from 5am to 9pm yesterday. (China Press pic)
PETALING JAYA: Three orthopaedic specialists and 30 others have been remanded for between one and three days to assist in a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigation into a cartel allegedly involved in falsifying RM2.1 million worth of Social Security Organisation (Socso) disability claims.
The remand order was issued by magistrate Nadratun Naim Saidi at the George Town magistrates’ court today.
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The case is being investigated for intention to deceive under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the value of the false claims, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Citing an MACC source, Sinar Harian said the 30 comprised 19 claimants, eight agents and three "runners".
The source said those detained are aged between 26 and 60 years.
“The doctors are orthopaedic specialists from two government hospitals and one private hospital in Seberang Jaya. They are aged 36, 50 and 57 years.
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"All 33 individuals were arrested in an operation that began at 5am and lasted until 9pm yesterday,"the source said, adding that they were detained after being questioned at the MACC office in Penang.
It is understood that the cartel was involved in making false claims related to spinal injuries and anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
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"The claimants who received the money would take 50%, while the remaining 50% would be distributed among the doctors, the agents and the runners," said the source.
It is alleged that a doctor could receive up to RM10,000 for each claim, but this depended on the number of claims.
The source said the cartel had been active since 2017 and it was possible that more arrests would be made.
In July, a senator, Dr RA Lingeshwaran, urged the human resources ministry to clarify allegations that several doctors handling Socso disability claims had been suspended in connection with a cartel falsifying such applications.
He told the Dewan Negara the panel was believed to have been suspended until further notice after Socso discovered the activities at a hospital in Penang.
Lingeshwaran, who is also a former director of Sungai Bakap Hospital, said it was understood the cartel was lobbying for the suspended doctors to return to the same hospital.
According to him, there were 683 fraudulent claims from 2018 to 2022 involving about RM43 million, with 16 involving a particular doctor whose services were terminated after the scam was exposed.
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