Man gets 300 land titles with fake certs

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday detained 13 more persons for investigation into the possession of false native certificates (Sijil Anak Negeri).

A MACC source disclosed yesterday that the commission also arrested a man for obtaining 300 land titles by using false native certificates.

The total size of all the land is about 1,000 hectares as each of the land titles is between four to five acres.

The MACC source said the suspect's land is in Sandakan and he obtained the native certificates in Kota Marudu.

"The suspect in his 50s has admitted using his Sabah Bumiputera status and the native certificates to get the land," said the source.

Nine of the 13 owners of the native certificates arrested by MACC on Wednesday were men and four were women. They are in their 40s to 79.

Four were apprehended in Kota Kinabalu, five in Tawau and two each in Keningau and in Semporna.

The native certificates of five of the suspects were confiscated.

This brings the total number of people detained by the MACC for investigation into suspected possession of false native certificates in Sabah to 31.

The MACC source said that they would continue to carry out further investigation, including identifying assets that were acquired through the use of Sijil Anak Negeri.

"Action will be taken after a thorough investigation has been carried out," added the source.

The MACC source also said that most of those arrested were not aware that their native certificates were fake.

"For this reason, a deeper and more detailed investigation is needed," it said.

According to the source, the MACC will also discuss with the Land and Survey Department on the status of the land obtained by the suspect.