COMP-3 field is being read with a value 3 less than expected value

Trying to read a file which has the following
07 IM-LKUP-LM-HH-MM-SS PIC S9(7) COMP-3.

The resulting value for each record is coming up with a value thats 3 more than expected.
For instance instead of seeing 131444 - its resulting in 131441
Happens for every single record - all other fields are being parsed correctly - this is the only COMP field.

Added the following option
.option("debug", "hex")
and I see
{131441, 0131441F}
Here is what I see in the file using a hex editor: (ignore double quotes)
"
‘à"

Any idea why this is happening and how to fix it.

Is this because of an unsigned COMP field and the sign value should be ignored but the code is somehow including it in the value?