text: [{"text_idx": "#000003", "text": "US says stolen Covid relief funds seized so far top US$1.4bil"}, {"text_idx": "#000004", "text": "The US justice department disclosed the results of a nationwide enforcement action to combat coronavirus fraud. (AFP pic)"}, {"text_idx": "#000005", "text": "WASHINGTON: The US justice department said on Wednesday it has seized over US$1.4 billion in Covid-19 relief funds that criminals had stolen, and charged over 3,000 defendants with crimes in federal districts across the country."}, {"text_idx": "#000006", "text": "The justice department disclosed the results of a nationwide enforcement action to combat coronavirus fraud, including federal criminal charges against 371 defendants for offences related to over US$836 million in alleged Covid fraud."}, {"text_idx": "#000007", "text": "\u201cThis latest action, involving over 300 defendants and over US$830 million in alleged Covid-19 fraud, should send a clear message: the Covid-19 public health emergency may have ended, but the justice department\u2019s work to identify and prosecute those who stole pandemic relief funds is far from over,\u201d US attorney-general Merrick Garland said in a statement."}, {"text_idx": "#000008", "text": "A total of 119 defendants pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial during the sweep, according to the justice department."}, {"text_idx": "#000009", "text": "The US is probing many fraud cases pegged to US government assistance programs. In May 2021, Garland launched a Covid fraud enforcement task force."}, {"text_idx": "#000010", "text": "Last year, the US justice department tapped federal prosecutor Kevin Chambers to lead its efforts to investigate alleged fraud schemes targeting pandemic assistance programs."}, {"text_idx": "#000011", "text": "Over US$200 billion from the US government\u2019s Covid-19 relief programs were potentially stolen, a federal watchdog said in late June, adding that the US Small Business Administration (SBA) had weakened its controls in a rush to disburse the funds."}, {"text_idx": "#000012", "text": "In September 2022, the inspector general for the US Labor Department said fraudsters likely stole US$45.6 billion from the US\u2019 unemployment insurance program during the coronavirus outbreak by applying tactics like using Social Security numbers of deceased individuals."}, {"text_idx": "#000013", "text": "Earlier this year, a separate watchdog report said the US government likely awarded about US$5.4 billion in Covid-19 aid to people with questionable social security numbers."}, {"text_idx": "#000016", "text": "Moroccan quake deaths top 2,000 as rescuers search for survivors"}, {"text_idx": "#000018", "text": "Malaysian P-hailing riders association wants career development funds for entrepreneurship training"}, {"text_idx": "#000019", "text": "Crowded contest for top Gerakan posts"}, {"text_idx": "#000020", "text": "Biden proposes new measures for student loan relief"}, {"text_idx": "#000021", "text": "Japan wants 30% directors at top firms to be women"}, {"text_idx": "#000022", "text": "Australia\u2019s pension funds boost fossil fuel investments"}, {"text_idx": "#000024", "text": "Hyundai Motor Group aiming to be a top 3 global EV producer by 2030 with investment of 24 trillion won"}]