Fake medical health cert issuers released on bond

GEORGE TOWN: The 10 suspects who were detained in an anti-graft crackdown on dubiously issued medical health certificates have been released.

theSun learned the suspects were released on a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) bond.

Among them are seven doctors, six of whom are in private practice and one who is a government doctor, a clinic assistant and two runners.

MACC officers detained them on Tuesday afternoon for allegedly issuing medical health certificates to public transport drivers for a fee without undergoing proper health check procedures.

They were subsequently remanded for two days to assist in investigations for allegedly intending to deceive principal by agent under the MACC Act 2009.

Those convicted face a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of not less than five times the sum of the false material or RM10,000 whichever is higher.

The ruse was discovered last Dec where doctors allegedly issued the certificates to public transport drivers wanting to renew their Public Service Vehicle License (PSVL) for a fee of between RM5 to RM30.

Investigators believe the scheme has been going on for between four to 10 years and have expressed their worries over the safety of the public.