Sabah Police Cripple Fake Identity Card Application Syndicate, Nine Arrested

KOTA KINABALU, May 20 (Bernama) -- Sabah police have crippled a syndicate involved in fraudulent identity card applications following the arrest of nine individuals, including four women, in Op Pugo recently.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the six-day operation, which began on May 7, saw the arrest of suspects aged between 36 and 61, involving five Filipinos and four Indonesians.

“The operation was carried out following a police report lodged by a 30-year-old woman on March 13. The victim claimed to have suffered losses amounting to RM20,000 after she checked that there was no record of any identity card application under her name at the National Registration Department (JPN),” he said.

Speaking at a press conference here today, he said police also seized various documents and equipment believed to have been used in fraudulent activities involving MyKad applications during the operation.

“Among the items seized were 85 pieces of various MyKad application documents, 54 copies of identity cards, 45 copies of MyKad applicants’ documents, 24 applicant photographs and 10 sets of written documents related to the Special Placement Programme,” he said.

Jauteh said nine copies of birth certificates, six original birth certificates, seven copies of passports bearing various names, seven mobile phones, five fake identity cards and three JPN stamps were also seized.

He said the case is classified under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction, as well as Section 170 of the Code for impersonating a public servant, which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both.

“The investigation also involves Regulation 25(1)(e) of the National Registration Regulations 1990, which provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or both upon conviction,” he added.

-- BERNAMA