GEORGE TOWN: Two more doctors along with a third individual have been remanded for four days from Thursday (Sept 5) to assist in the investigation of false Social Security Organisation (Socso) disability claims.
The trio were brought to a George Town Magistrate's Court by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers under heavy security at 8.50am on Thursday (Sept 5).
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday (Sept 4) during an operation by the graft-buster.
ALSO READ: Two more doctors remanded in fake Socso claims probe
Magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin issued the order to remand the doctors, aged 43 and 50, to facilitate the probe under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 for submission of false claims.
The medical practitioners are from Seberang Jaya Hospital.
The other suspect, in his 30s, was believed to have acted as an agent.
The suspects were brought to court in orange MACC lockup attire for the remand process.
ALSO READ: Socso claim process to be overhauled in wake of recent abuses, says Sim
The latest swoop by MACC was made following the arrests of 33 suspects, including three doctors, on Tuesday (Sept 3).
The doctors, aged 36, 50, and 57, were each remanded for two days while 30 others comprising 19 private sector employees, eight agents and three runners aged 26 to 60 were remanded between one and three days by a Magistrate's Court here on Wednesday.
It is understood that the initial three doctors, who are orthopaedic specialists, are from two public hospitals in Bukit Mertajam and Seberang Jaya while the other is with a private hospital in Butterworth.
ALSO READ: Socso putting brakes on highly suspicious hospitals
On Wednesday, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said another doctor was in the graft-buster's sights in connection with the fake Socso claims probe.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim also said a review and revamp of the Socso claim process would be conducted nationwide to prevent such abuses from recurring.
In the meantime, Socso said, all claims received would still be treated as genuine so as not to deprive those in need of their rightful due.
However, Sim also pointed out that certain "highly suspicious" hospitals have been prevented from making Socso claims pending investigation.
