KOTA KINABALU: Graft investigators arrested 19 contractors for using false bank statements in their bid to obtain projects worth RM49mil from the Sabah Education Department.

       The 10 men and nine women, aged between 24 and 53 years old, were arrested at the Sabah Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office here at about 10am on Saturday (March 5), sources said.

       The sources said that the contractors' bank statements were allegedly falsified so that balance amounts reflected strong financial positions in their bid for various contracts in the state.

       When contacted, Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrests and said MACC was investigating the case under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and Section 471 of the Penal Code for forgery.

       He said MACC hopes to charge the suspects in court soon.

       Karunanithy said that falsification of bank statements was a serious problem in the state and there was a need for local contractors to be made aware of the serious offence involved in the falsification of documents for tenders.

       In 2020, he said Sabah MACC arrested 39 contractors who had falsified their bank statements to tender for RM80mil worth of government contracts.

       He said some 132 people have been charged in court so far in connection with the falsification of documents in 2021.

       "We have taken this illegal activity among some contractors seriously and have put in place some preventive measures to address the issues relating to falsification of documents," he added.

       Apart from preventive measures, Karunathi said they have held dialogues with contractors through integrity seminars organised with the state Finance Ministry in August 2020.

       On March 27 last year, Karunanithy said they also held an Anti-Corruption Forum - theme "Role of Contractors in Overcoming Graft" - that was carried out together with the Tawau Municipal Council and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).