Sabah cops cripple syndicate offering birth certs, MyKad using false details

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police have crippled a syndicate allegedly offering to help people apply for birth certificates and MyKad using false personal details in Semporna.

This comes with the arrest of three suspects including a 43-year-old National Registration Department (NRD) officer based in Semporna on July 23.

Sabah deputy police commissioner Datuk Zaini Jass said the suspects were believed to have been operating since early last year.

“This matter came to light when a 35-year-old man told police he was approached by someone offering to help him get a birth certificate for RM3, 500 and identification card for RM6, 000, ”‌ he said during a press conference here Monday (July 29).

He said three suspects aged from 32 to 43, including the NRD officer, were picked up soon after that.

“These suspects were nabbed in their respective homes in Semporna, ”‌ Zaini said, adding that police were checking if officials or staff from other government agencies and departments are involved.

Among items seized were 34 rubber stamps including those from the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS), Tawau and Semporna hospitals, NRD, commissioners of oaths, native court, district health office and village chiefs.

However, he said the stamps from JHEAINS, native court, district health clinic and Semporna NRD were found to be fake.

“We are checking the authenticity of the others, ”‌ Zaini said.

Apart from these, he said police also confiscated empty record books for mothers and children.

He said initial investigations found that the suspects would fill in the details of the applicants themselves before submitting them as supporting documents to apply for either MyKad or birth certificates from the NRD.

From these seizures, Zaini said they found out that one application for a birth certificate was submitted to the NRD and an official receipt for this was also seized.

“We have yet to come across any other submissions for MyKad or birth certificates so far but are continuing our probe, ”‌ he said.

He thanked the public for their help in providing information, which led to this bust, and called for more people to come forward to assist investigations.