KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police have arrested three men, including a National Registration Department (NRD) officer, for offering birth certificates and identity cards using falsified information.
The trio, believed to be part of a syndicate operating since early last year, was uncovered after a 35-year-old man in the Semporna east coast district was offered a birth certificate for RM3,500 and an IC for RM6,000.
Police detained the suspects, aged between 32 and 43, in Semporna on July 23 after the man lodged a report. The 43-year-old NRD officer is with the Semporna office.
Among the items seized from the suspects were genuine late-birth and IC registration forms obtained from NRD as well as several stamps purportedly belonging to government departments and related agencies.
Sabah deputy police chief Zaini Jass said among the 34 stamps seized were those purportedly from the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS), the Tawau and Semporna hospitals, the native court, NRD, commissioner of oaths, district health office and village chiefs.
“Four of the stamps – from JHEAINS and the Semporna native court, NRD and health clinic – had been falsified.
“We are still checking to see if the other stamps are genuine,” he told reporters at the Sabah police contingent headquarters in Kepayan here today.
Police also seized empty record books believed to be for filling up particulars of parents and children and supporting documents.
Zaini said police had traced one application for a birth certificate submitted by the syndicate to NRD. An official NRD receipt for this was also seized.
“So far, we have yet to find any birth certificates or ICs the syndicate may have issued using falsified information or documents.
“We are also checking if staff from other government departments or agencies are involved in the syndicate,” he said. - FMT
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