Indonesian woman gets 12 months' jail for identity fraud to get vaccinated

Magistrate Mohamad Nasrudin Mohamed handed down the sentence on Yanik Setia Pratiwi, 36, after she pleaded guilty to committing the offence at a Community Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) here, on June 13 and July 4.

Yanik was charged with two counts of using an identity card belonging to Nor Athirah Zaiki, 26, to obtain two COVID-19 vaccine shots, under Regulation 25(1) (c) of the National Registration Act1990 which provides three years imprisonment or a fine of up to RM20,000 or both.

For each offence, the court imposed a fine of RM2,000 in default six months in jail. Yanik however, failed to pay the fine.

In the same court, the accused's husband, Amiruzaman Ab Rahmad, 59, a local, was also fined RM2,000 in default six months imprisonment on each count, for abetting his wife for the same offences at the same place and date. He paid the fine.

According to the facts of the case, the couple's activities were uncovered when Nor Athirah, who is from Perak, lodged a police report on July 7, after she learned that she had completed the two-dose Sinovac vaccine here, through the MySejahtera application, when she has yet to be vaccinated.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ho Zee Xing while the accused were represented by counsel Asmadi Abu Bakar.