A contractor was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today for allegedly making false claims, involving RM190,000.

The suspect, in his 30s, was detained at his house in Beseri, Perlis, at 11am for investigation for allegedly making false claims for 11 programmes under the Industry Centre of Excellence (ICoE) at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), which actually did not exist.

The suspect is believed to be related to a UUM lecturer who was detained by MACC last Jan 28, also for a similar offence, involving RM14 million.

Kedah MACC director Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohamad, who confirmed the arrest, said the case was being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.

Following the arrest, he said, MACC also seized several documents.

The agency is also expected to make several more arrest soon, he said in a statement today.