MELAKA: A woman, who is a Datuk, and a male civil servant have been remanded for three days for allegedly submitting false documents to the state Council of Datuks in a bid to register as members of the body.
Magistrate Nabihah Mohd Noor ordered the remand of the suspects, who are their 30s and 40s, after they were brought to the court complex in Ayer Keroh here.
The duo are being investigated under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 for providing documents that are false or containing false details with the intention to deceive.
The female suspect was detained at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters when she turned up to provide her statement on Tuesday night.
The civil servant was also arrested on the same day.
The woman had allegedly submitted her details in 2018 to the council in a bid to register as a member.
Melaka MACC director Mohd Shahril Che Saad confirmed the arrest.
On Sunday, The Star reported that the Melaka Council of Datuks was working on an initiative to stop any abuse of titles.
Council president Datuk Wira Jahaya Mat said it involved applying for the exclusive rights to use and protect the various Datukship awards conferred legally by the Yang di-Pertua of Melaka.
It was also to safeguard the image of the honorary titles bestowed by the state on individuals.
Melaka confers titles through the Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM), which carries the title Datuk Seri; the Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka (DCSM), which carries the title Datuk Wira; the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), which carries the title Datuk; and the Darjah Pangkuan Seri Melaka (DPSM), which also carries the title Datuk.
Jahaya noted that 37 cases relating to abuse of Melaka honorary titles were investigated by police last year.
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