Cops bust fake MC syndicate

IPOH: Police have arrested a 33-year-old woman and smashed a syndicate forging and selling medical certificates (MCs) in Slim River.

Perak Commercial Crime chief Supt Lee Ewe Kiang said that following a tip-off and a week-long investigation, police made the arrest at a stationery shop at about 7.15pm on Monday.

"The woman is our prime suspect and possibly the mastermind,” he told a press conference here Tuesday.

"We also seized numerous photocopied medical chits and duplicated stamps of doctors from Slim River Hospital, health clinics and even from Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Sultanah Aminah Hospital."

The syndicate is believed to have been operating since 2011 and police are unsure how many fake MCs have been sold, he added.

Supt Lee said the chits seized were dated 2017.

"Among their clients were students, civil servants and factory workers,” he said, adding that the chit prices ranged from RM18 to RM25.

"One doctor has lodged a report about the misuse of his name. There are seven other doctors whose stamps have been duplicated but did not lodge police reports. They might not be aware of it," he added.

Supt Lee urged employers who believe they have received fake chits from employees to come forward to the police.

The case would be investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, he added.