KUALA LUMPUR: A doctor with a Datuk Seri title, who owns several clinics, and a lawyer were among 16 individuals nabbed by graft busters in connection with a scheme facilitating the registration of non-citizen births as Malaysians.
Those involved used fake supporting documents and bribed government officials to ensure the success of their operation.
It is learnt that the racket’s key figures were linked to a lawyer who acted as the middleman.
Their activities were uncovered after a year of intelligence gathering by investigators and cooperation among multiple agencies.
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All suspects, aged between 20 and 70, were detained between 11am and 8pm on Tuesday in two operations codenamed Ops Outlander and Ops Birth.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said the raids were conducted at several premises, including clinics and law firms in the Klang Valley and Johor.
“For Ops Outlander, a civil servant is the main suspect believed to have facilitated late birth registrations based on applications submitted more than 60 days after birth.
“A Datuk Seri medical practitioner, who owns several clinics, is suspected of issuing fake birth certification documents,” he said.
Ahmad Khusairi said for Ops Birth, three main suspects – who are agents – are believed to have offered a RM18,000 bribe to a civil servant to process birth registrations.
“These applications relied on falsified supporting documents, including forged hospital birth confirmation letters.
“Six others, who were applicants who used the agents’ services, were also detained.
“We also detained a lawyer, believed to be the middleman in the racket,” he said.
He said the MACC will remand all 16 suspects, except two.
“Two suspects, including a Datuk Seri who has health problems, have been released on MACC bail after their statements were recorded.
“We will apply for remand for the remaining suspects,” he said.
Ahmad Khusairi said the raids were conducted based on a year of intelligence gathering and cooperation between the MACC and the National Registration Department.
