GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has obtained a four-day remand order against three individuals including a former special officer to a senior state exco member over allegations of false claims involving more than RM80,000.

       The remand order was issued yesterday by magistrate R. Manomani after an application by the MACC at the George Town court complex.

       The 42-year-old former special officer and two individuals will be remanded until Saturday.

       They were alleged to have made the false claims in relation to a programme involving hawkers in Penang that was never implemented in 2020.

       It is learnt that the suspects were believed to have falsified details about the supply of equipment involving six companies.

       The case is being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 for making false claims.

       Those found guilty under the offence can be jailed up to 20 years and fined RM10,000 or five times the amount of bribe, whichever is higher.

       On Tuesday, it was reported that three men and three women aged between 25 and 50 were arrested at the Penang MACC office.

       Three of the suspects, however, were released on bail while the other three were taken to the George Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday for a remand application.

       Meanwhile, state trade and industry, and entrepreneurial development committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain said the special officer stopped working for him in December last year.

       “His contract ended on Dec 31 last year. Let the authorities do their investigation,” he said.