Police bust syndicate forging various documents, 14 individuals including Rohingya mastermind apprehended

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police have successfully crippled a syndicate that forged various documents, especially United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) cards, after arresting 14 individuals, including 11 Rohingyas.

The syndicate, led by a 63year-old Rohingya migrant, forged UNHCR cards and other documents and offered other services to their compatriots, earning hundreds of thousands of ringgit every month.

Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said police had conducted 16 raids in Seberang Prai Tengah and Seberang Prai Utara in Penang and Arau, Perlis since Feb 14.

“Police have arrested 11 Rohingya migrants, including three women, two men and a local woman, all aged between 18 and 63.

“A raid at the mastermind’s residence in Bukit Mertajam, led to a flat in Butterworth, which is document forging centre,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

Mohamed Usuf said police seized various equipment used to produce fake cards and documents, as well as 20 UNHCR cards, 13 Myanmar passports, eight temporary work visit passes, six Republic Union of Myanmar cards, four Malaysian driving licenses, and two Malaysia Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) cards, all of which were fake.

“We also conficsated 180 copies of vehicle owernership certificates, eight motorcycles, and three cars,” he said.

Mohamed Usuf said the mastermind has been in Malaysia for 10 years and admitted to selling 700 UNHCR cards at RM1,000 each to other Rohingyas in one year, earning RM700,000 for this service alone.