Nrd Officer Sold Mykad

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On to trial: The six accused being escorted out after being charged at the Sessions Court in George Town
GEORGE TOWN: Police have busted a syndicate selling Malaysian birth certificates and MyKad to foreigners.

Penang police chief Comm Datuk T. Narenasagaran said six syndicate members, including a “datuk” and a National Registration Department assistant director, were charged at the Sessions Courts here yesterday.

“We have identified the group leader. The investigation is long and we will continue to provide updates.

“We detained 20 of them, and after they were referred to the prosecution, six were charged.

“Some of them may be called up as witnesses, but it is up to the prosecution team,” he said at the Penang International Airport yesterday.

The six suspects were slapped with 32 charges in the Sessions Court here for falsifying Malaysian birth certificates and MyKad and for selling the documents to foreigners. NRD assistant director Mohd Faizul Arifin, 34, faces 11 charges – two under Section 26E of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, four under Section 466 of the Penal Code and five under Section 25(1)(i) of the National Registration Regulations 1990.

The other five were Datuk Lai Chin Wah, 56, Loh Chan Cheong, 34, Chien Guan Chai, 36, Yap Cheng Wah, 44, and Mohd Faizal Tan Abdullah, 56.

Mohd Faizul is charged with falsifying Malaysian birth certificates and identity cards under the names Ewe Chor Beng and Tan Xiu Xiu, as well as issuing identity cards under the names Lim Hock Eng, Yang Xiaohong and Pheh Jin Leong, all of whom are Chinese nationals.

He was charged with committing the offences between Sept 20, 2018, and May 3 at the Penang NRD office in Anson Road.

Loh, Chien, Yap and Mohd Faizal were charged with selling the forged Malaysian birth certificates and MyKad under the name Ewe Chor Beng between March 1 and March 31 this year.

They were charged under Section 26E of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a jail term of between seven and 15 years or a fine of not less than RM50,000, but not more than RM500,000, or both, upon conviction.

Chien was also charged with abetting Mohd Faizul in forging birth certificates and MyKad under the names Ewe Chor Beng and Tan Xiu Xiu, between April and May this year at the Penang NRD office.

He was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetment, which carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine upon conviction.

Lai was also charged with abetting Mohd Faizul in forging the Malaysian birth certificate and MyKad for Ewe Chor Beng.

He was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetting, which carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine upon conviction.

All 32 charges were read out

separately in two sessions courts before judges Salha Hamzah and Mazdi Abdul Hamid.

No bail was offered by the prosecution team, led by state prosecution director Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim.

Mohd Faizul was represented by counsel Sukhindarpal Singh, Lai by counsel Dr N. Ahilan, while Loh and Yap were represented by counsel Lee Kean Wooi.

Mohd Faizal and Chien were represented by Datuk Ranjit Singh Dhillon. The cases were fixed for mention on Sept 18.

The syndicate reportedly made between RM100,000 and RM600,000 from selling identity cards to foreigners.- Star

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