Authenticity of CCM-certified documents may be in doubt - sources

Certified true copies of documents purchased from the Companies Commission (CCM) may be of questionable authenticity, according to MACC sources.

The sources claimed that investigators probing alleged corruption and abuse of power in an RM500 million CCM project uncovered an issue with the system the commission uses to issue certified true copies of companies' information. 

Such documents can be purchased online for RM30.

"We suspect that this system was not being operated properly, and had broken procedures set by the Communications and Multimedia Commission.

"The MACC has yet to identify the victims in this matter, but users of this system mainly involve law enforcement agencies, as well as lawyers and members of the public.

"There is doubt over the authenticity of certified true copies issued through this system," said a source close to the MACC probe.

Another source said that this could lead to bigger problems, as CCM-certified true copies are widely used by courts and financial institutions.

These documents are said to not comply with the Digital Signature Act 1997, and could be considered tampered evidence in courts of law.

"It might have a serious impact on legal matters, especially if the documents have been tendered in court."

One source said that the MACC suspect that the problem could have started back in Jan 2017. 

It is also suspected that certain quarters in CCM knew about the discrepancy and covered it up, possibly to obtain kickbacks.

The MACC was scrutinising one of CCM's IT systems as part of its graft probe.

A senior officer said that anyone with reasons to suspect the authenticity of certified true copies purchased from CCM to contact the MACC.

"This system is related to the public, and we welcome anyone, including government bodies, who have reason to be suspicious of the authenticity of documents they obtained from CCM to come forward.

"Contact MACC and lodge a report, so we can investigate," said the officer.

Malaysiakini has contacted CCM for comments. - Mkini