ANTI-GRAFT investigators parked themselves at the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) office, sifting through documents as part of a new probe into fraudulent claims.

Sources said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers carted away stacks of documents showing inflated billings for HRDF’s training programmes.

Investigators are expected to return to the HRDF office in Damansara Heights today.

“Some of the documents taken away were related to training courses held in several parts of the country. Seven boxes of files were taken away,” a source told The Malaysian Insight.

“Several cases are being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act.”

According to Section 18 of the MACC Act  “any person providing documents such as receipts or invoices that are false or contain false details with the intention to deceive the principal (office)” has committed an offence.

The day before yesterday, MACC officers were in the HRDF building about 10am to 5pm collecting  documents and the statements of some of the staff.

MACC is expected to interview more people, including high ranking officials in the former administration, in the coming days.

Human Resources Minister M.Kulasegaran had said that the preceding officials at the fund had misappropriated millions of ringgit meant for training programmes. The money was allegedly used to buy property and pay selected employees hefty salaries and bonuses.

Police reports were lodged on the alleged financial abuse.

Kulasegaran also announced that a five-member independent governance oversight committee was tasked to conduct a thorough review over a period of 100 days.

This came about after training providers took the HRDF management to task in the presence of the minister in a heated town hall session.

The fund had also come under scrutiny after it was reported in January that a six-floor building was purchased for RM154 million without the knowledge of the board and the investment panel.

The same month, police raided the HRDF office and seized boxes of documents. – April 3, 2019.