Fake Covid-19 result scam

Safety measure: Foreign workers getting a Covid-19 swab test in Shah Alam. — ART CHEN/The Star

JOHOR BARU: As the Covid-19 spotlight is now on foreign workers nationwide, some foreigners have resorted to buying fake negative Covid-19 swab test results to allow them to work.

These fake results, purportedly issued by doctors, are being sold for between RM300 and RM500 each.

It is learnt that police uncovered this based on a report lodged by a doctor alleging that his clinic’s name was used in a scam involving fake Covid-19 test results for some Bangladeshi workers.

Sources said the incident occurred when a company in Senai wanted to hire at least eight Bangladeshi workers for their operations.

They said the company wanted the outsource company to produce Covid-19 test results showing that the workers were negative as part of their employment process.

“The workers submitted the test results from a private clinic to the company’s human resources department. However when the company official contacted the clinic doctor to verify the tests, he was informed that they had no such records, ” the sources added.

A police report was immediately lodged.

A team of officers from the Iskandar Puteri commercial crimes investigations unit then tracked down and arrested two people – a local runner and a Bangladeshi hostel manager – to help with the investigations.

Sources said police were also looking for the remaining workers who had since gone into hiding and those responsible for producing the fake Covid-19 test results.

Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Dzulkhairi Mukhtar confirmed the arrests of the two suspects and said that investigations were still under way.

He said police were investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

Those with information regarding this case are urged to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999.

Meanwhile, state health and environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan was shocked when informed about such a syndicate selling fake Covid-19 swab test results to foreign workers.

He urged companies to be careful when accepting such Covid-19 test results and to always check with the clinics or doctors to verify the reports.

“I have also asked the state health department to look into this case.

“Everyone needs to be careful especially with our Covid-19 cases increasing significantly in recent days, ” he said, hoping that the police would also arrest those responsible in such a syndicate.