Cheat by Malaysian military officers
Reported by Straits Times
23rd Feb 2003
KUALA LUMPUR - Military officers who cheated the armed forces of RM7 million (S$3.2 million) have spent all the money on luxury cars, houses and land.
Ten officers have been arrested since the scam was exposed last November, the Malay Mail reported yesterday.Six of them - majors and captains - were arrested early last week in Kuantan and in Sungai Petani, Kedah.They have been remanded for between 10 and 14 days to facilitate police investigations.
Four other officers were arrested earlier this month after discrepancies were detected in purchase requisitions for goods and services meant for military installations and camps nationwide.
The officers allegedly billed the government for furniture, computers, air-conditioners and electrical items that were either grossly overpriced or never received by army camps in Sungai Petani and Kota Belud, Sabah.
Confirming the latest arrests, Federal Commercial Crime Division deputy director Mohd Nawawi Ismail said investigations would now be extended to Sabah and Sarawak. He said investigators wanted to see if there were similar cases in military camps in both of those states.
The mastermind of the scam is believed to be a high-ranking officer in the logistics branch of the armed forces. The officer allegedly posed as a contractor to buy office equipment for several camps nationwide about a year ago. The New Straits Times had reported on Nov 16 that the Defence Ministry's Special Investigation Branch was investigating fake invoices and questionable purchase order requisitions.
The probe, supervised by a brigadier-general, involved senior military personnel and was related to procurement and service contracts awarded to private firms. It followed an annual internal audit on procurement carried out by the ministry.
Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak said at the time: 'It's possible that the scam took place over a span of a few years.' He indicated that the officers suspected to be involved in the scam would face a military tribunal in addition to the police investigation
Cheat by Malaysian military officers
Reported by Straits Times
23rd Feb 2003
KUALA LUMPUR - Military officers who cheated the armed forces of RM7 million (S$3.2 million) have spent all the money on luxury cars, houses and land.
Ten officers have been arrested since the scam was exposed last November, the Malay Mail reported yesterday.Six of them - majors and captains - were arrested early last week in Kuantan and in Sungai Petani, Kedah.They have been remanded for between 10 and 14 days to facilitate police investigations.
Four other officers were arrested earlier this month after discrepancies were detected in purchase requisitions for goods and services meant for military installations and camps nationwide.
The officers allegedly billed the government for furniture, computers, air-conditioners and electrical items that were either grossly overpriced or never received by army camps in Sungai Petani and Kota Belud, Sabah.
Confirming the latest arrests, Federal Commercial Crime Division deputy director Mohd Nawawi Ismail said investigations would now be extended to Sabah and Sarawak. He said investigators wanted to see if there were similar cases in military camps in both of those states.
The mastermind of the scam is believed to be a high-ranking officer in the logistics branch of the armed forces. The officer allegedly posed as a contractor to buy office equipment for several camps nationwide about a year ago. The New Straits Times had reported on Nov 16 that the Defence Ministry's Special Investigation Branch was investigating fake invoices and questionable purchase order requisitions.
The probe, supervised by a brigadier-general, involved senior military personnel and was related to procurement and service contracts awarded to private firms. It followed an annual internal audit on procurement carried out by the ministry.
Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak said at the time: 'It's possible that the scam took place over a span of a few years.' He indicated that the officers suspected to be involved in the scam would face a military tribunal in addition to the police investigation
