Foreigners the mastermind in forging COVID-19 screening test document

Police arrested five Bangladeshi men suspected of being involved in the syndication of fake COVID-19 screening documents involving foreigners in the capital's Tengkat Tong Shin Road on Tuesday.

According to Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim, the arrest was made following the detention of two male suspects believed to be involved in the same syndicate on June 6.

"All the suspects, aged between 26 and 30 years, are working as construction workers at a construction company in Kuala Lumpur.

"Also confiscated are five mobile phones of various brands and a copy of the COVID-19 screening letter written by Lablink Medical Laboratory," he said in a statement on Saturday.

Mazlan said police received three more reports of the forged COVID-19 screening test results on June 9 and 10.

In all three cases, he said, hospitals and laboratories around Kuala Lumpur have received calls and e-mails from employers seeking confirmation of the COVID-19 screening test results.

"However, after checks were made, the hospital and the lab found that the patient's name stated in the COVID-19 screening test results report could not be found in the hospital and laboratory records.

"The doctor who performed the screening was not at the hospital and in the laboratory as in the COVID-19 screening test results report.

"Further investigations are being conducted under section 468/471 of the Penal Code (using false documents as genuine), punishable by a maximum of 7 years imprisonment and fine upon conviction, Section 22 (d) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and Section 6 (1 (C) Act Immigration," he added.

According to Mazlan, efforts to track down the suspects and those involved in the fabrication of the COVID-19 screening test documents were being worked out by police.

"The irresponsible act driven by such profits endanger the public and undermines the government's efforts to break the COVID-19 infection chain,” he said.

Employers are advised to check the COVID-19 screening test results submitted by employees with the issuer of the report before making any decision to hire them.

People with any information can contact the Kuala Lumpur Police Hotline at ‪03-2115 9999‬ or any nearest police station.