KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun prosecuting individuals nationwide over fraudulent claims involving the Social Security Organisation's (PERKESO) Daya Kerjaya 2.0 incentive programme, with at least 100 people expected to be charged.
On Wednesday (Aug 5), 13 suspects were brought before the courts in Pahang, Perak, Kelantan and Kedah. Another 16 individuals were charged on Thursday (Aug 6) in Perak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah.
The anti-graft agency confirmed that more prosecutions are expected throughout August as investigations into the nationwide fraud continue.
Without disclosing the total number of charges to be filed, the MACC said those facing prosecution include company owners and several other individuals believed to have abused the incentive programme.
"The list of individuals to be charged is extensive because the investigations involve cases across the country.
"All investigation papers have been submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for review and a decision on prosecution," the commission said in a statement.
The MACC said it would continue working closely with the Deputy Public Prosecutor to ensure that everyone against whom sufficient evidence has been obtained is brought before the courts in accordance with the law.
The fraudulent claims are estimated to have caused RM45mil in losses to the government.
In June, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman revealed that 1,638 companies were under investigation for allegedly submitting fraudulent Daya Kerjaya 2.0 claims amounting to about RM45mil.
Investigators found that syndicates had used personal data belonging to unsuspecting victims, including persons with disabilities, parolees and senior citizens aged above 60, without authorisation to submit claims under the programme.
The commission also uncovered cases in which workers received only one-off payments ranging from RM50 to RM2,400, even though full incentive claims had been submitted in their names.
As of June, the MACC had opened 63 investigation papers and arrested 97 individuals, comprising 11 agents and 86 company owners. Of those arrested, 77 were remanded to assist in the investigations.
