The Malaysian police busted a gang of six involved in the illegal issuance of MyKads to foreigners on Aug 19, and the six, including the state National Registration Department (NRD) assistant director, were charged in two separate Sessions Courts here on Sept 12.

They were under arrest for 28 days while the police carried out their investigation.

They face a total 32 counts for various offences in connection with the illegal issuance and sale of MyKads to foreigners, who are of Chinese nationality. Among the six is also a businessman with a ‘Datuk’ title.

All six accused were charged under Section 26E of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 while five were also charged under Section 466 of the Penal Code read together with Section 109 of the Penal Code and Regulation 25(1)(i) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 respectively.

New Straits Times said Mohd Faizul Arifin, 34, who is the state NRD assistant director, was charged with a total of 11 charges. Businessman Datuk Lai Chin Wah, 56, faces five charges – three under the ATIPSOM Act and two under the Penal Code.

Mohd Faizal Tan Abdullah, 66, faces two charges under the ATIPSOM Act while his son-in-law Chien Guan Chai, 36, two charges under the ATIPSOM Act and four charges under the Penal Code.

Loh Chan Cheong, 34, and Yap Cheng Wah, 44, face two charges under the ATIPSOM Act and Penal Code respectively.

They face a minimum of seven years and a maximum 15 years imprisonment and a fine of not less than RM50,000 and not more than RM500,000 or both upon conviction.

Police also arrested 20 people, aged between 32 and 70, on Aug 19, including the state NRD assistant director, in a special operation on suspicion of being involved in the issuance and sale of personal identification documents to Chinese nationals.

A police investigation shows the foreigners paid between RM100,000 to RM600,000 for the ID’s.

This week, the NRD denied it was involved in the issuance and sale of ID’s to Chinese nationals, refuting rumours circulating on Facebook and Twitter which said it was issued a large number of ID’s to Chinese nationals.

On Monday, Malaysia’s National Registration Department (NRD) lodged a police report against several social media users whom it says spread rumours it granted citizenship to Chinese nationals.

The fake news has been circulating online for a month, in which they falsely accuse the department of indiscriminately granting citizenship to Chinese nationals.

The social media posts featured pictures of alleged Chinese nationals on a blue Malaysian identification card, a card issued only to citizens of Malaysia. Foreigners are usually granted the Red coloured ID.

It is not known whether the rumours on Internet were linked to the arrest of the 20 individuals on Aug 19.-/TISG