KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu police have smashed a MyKad forgery syndicate led by two men during a raid in Besut last week.
State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairudin said the suspects, aged 35 and 39, were arrested in a raid on a house in Kampung Raja at 10.05pm on Thursday (April 23).
He said police seized two laptops, two printers, 110 blank cards, mobile phones, a pen drive, portable WiFi devices and a laminating machine believed to have been used for forging MyKad.
"The raid was initially related to a drug case, but we stumbled upon the syndicate’s other activity when we found fake identity cards and forgery equipment.
"We also seized various fake documents, including 12 MyKad, two driving licences, numerous paper slips containing names and identity card numbers, bank cards, RM500 in cash and 7.1g of syabu pills,” he told a press conference at state police headquarters here on Wednesday (April 29).
DCP Khairi said investigations found that all the fake MyKad seized bore the names and identification numbers of actual persons, but the photographs had been altered and did not match official records from the National Registration Department.
He said investigations also found that the suspects used fake MyKad for financial fraud, including applying for bank loans online, with 12 applications approved for a total of RM40,000.
"This syndicate is believed to have been active for over a year. One of the suspects has a background in engineering and IT.
"Both suspects tested positive for drugs and prior criminal records for drug offences," he added.
DCP Khairi said the suspects, who were remanded, will be charged at the Besut Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (April 30) under Section 39A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Sections 420 and 468 of the Penal Code, and the National Registration Act 1959. – Bernama
