KUALA LUMPUR — Five Health Ministry officials implicated in a cartel scandal involving fraudulent Social Security Organisation (Socso) disability claims have returned to work and been transferred to other hospitals.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said this is pending the outcome of investigations and charges by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Previously, he said, the five officials were placed on suspension under Rule 43 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, effective from September 17.
“The suspension period was for 30 days to facilitate investigations, and the suspension period ended on October 16,” he said in a written reply to Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH).
Lim wanted to know what action would be taken against those involved, as well as what changes would be made to the hospital management system.
In September, Socso, through an internal investigation by the Anti-Fraud, Ethics and Integrity Division (ARFI), uncovered a network of fraudulent claims for permanent disability benefits spanning several years.
Following this, three doctors, including two orthopedic specialists at a hospital in Penang, along with 30 individuals, were remanded for between one and three days to assist in the investigation into the Socso disability claim fraud cartel, which is estimated to have defrauded the agency of RM2.1 million since 2017.
They are being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the value of the false statement, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The MACC also seized cash, jewellery, two branded bags, luxury vehicles, luxury vehicle number plates, 33 mobile phones, and luxury items, totaling approximately RM500,000 last Tuesday.
Initial investigations have also found that the amount of bribe money involved in this activity is approximately RM2 million.
Elaborating further, Dzulkefly said the scope of functions and operations of the orthopedic department at the hospital will continue as usual to provide specialist services to patients with assistance from officers from nearby hospitals. – November 20, 2024