The police are investigating a scam in which the Ministry of Defence was allegedly swindled into paying RM7.6 million for non-existent goods and services, officials said today.

A senior ministry official told AFP that several people, including mid-level army officers, were said to be involved with the scam, and that they allegedly "falsified invoices and receipts to obtain payments for the purchase of non-existent supplies."

"It's possible that the scam took place over a span of a few years", he said, adding that the invoices issued were for alleged purchases of computers, electrical items, furniture and maintenance.

A police spokesman confirmed that a report had been lodged on Tuesday by senior army officers, and that the case had been handed over to the federal commercial crimes branch for further investigations.

Defence Minister Najib Razak said several armed forces officers could face a military tribunal in connection with the case, the official news agency Bernama said Thursday.

Local reports said that the scam is believed to have been headed by an army captain impersonating a contractor. AFP