KUALA LUMPUR: Fifteen individuals have pleaded guilty to charges of providing false birth information to the National Registration Department (NRD) when registering their children’s birth certificates.
They were charged separately under Section 36(b) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Act 299) for wilfully or knowingly furnishing or permitting false information.
Four of the accused were also charged with applying for MyKad using the birth certificates, an offence under Article 25 (1)(b) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amendment 2007), which involves providing false information when registering the MyKad.
Act 299 provides for a maximum fine of RM2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or both, while the National Registration Regulations provide a prison term not exceeding three years, a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both.
The accused were fined between RM800 and RM1,800 for the offence under Act 299, while those charged for registering MyKad using false information were fined up to RM3,500.
The group, consisting of 12 men and three women, was represented by lawyers from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) and private lawyers.
According to the charge sheets, the offences were committed between 2004 and 2022 at various locations in Kuala Lumpur, including NRD counters in Taman Maluri, Bandar Tun Razak, and Kepong. They were arrested on Tuesday (April 22).
The proceedings took place before seven magistrates: Atiqah Mohamed@Mohamad Saim, Illi Marisqa Khalizan, MS Arunjothy, Aina Azahra Arifin, Amira Abdul Aziz, Farah Nabihah Muhamad Dan, and S. Mageswary.
The prosecuting officers were Nor Fadilah Mat Shaari, Arief Khairee Khairuddin, Mohd Syazlan Hafizi Mat Yaacob, Zulkarnain Ahmad, Nor Fadilah Mat Shaari, Tengku Hazmi Taqiuddin Tengku Ab Aziz, and Md Shahedan Md Taib and Ramzi Adnan.
NRD investigation and enforcement director Mohammad Khairu Farhan Md Saad said these individuals were identified following Ops Foster 1.0.
"We’re not penalising them; rather, we are trying to help. These cases took place in 2004, and after 21 years, we want to fix the problems.
"The birth certificates were issued following fake documentation, so now we want to make it right… we will assist them," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
He added that the next step for the parents of children aged below 21 is to find the correct birth information, such as the names of the parents and place of birth, before going through the adoption process and filing for citizenship.
Meanwhile, children above 21 could directly apply for citizenship, he said.
