JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a construction services company owner and an assistant engineer at the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) for allegedly submitting false claims amounting to RM350,000.

       The duo, a 45-year-old woman company owner and 36-year-old man, were detained at the MACC Johor office at about 6pm on Sunday (Aug 8) to help with the investigations.

       According to the MACC, investigations found that the assistant engineer had allegedly conspired with the woman who has two registered companies by submitting documents and certificates containing false details to the local council.

       The documents comprise the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Government Work, CIDB Malaysia Registration Certificate and the Finance Ministry’s Bumiputra Status Work Contractor's certificate.

       The documents were allegedly submitted to MBIP to obtain approval for works from MBIP from 2018 to 2020, including road scraping and road resurfacing and repainting of parking lots involving claims of more than RM350,000.

       The case is being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of five times the value of the offence committed or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

       When contacted, Johor MACC director Datuk Azmi Alias confirmed the arrest, adding that a remand application has been submitted to the Johor Baru Magistrate’s Court on Monday (Aug 9).

       Assistant Registrar Nurmadiana Mamat issued the remand order against the suspects for six days till Aug 14.