KUALA LUMPUR – The police have uncovered a syndicate allegedly selling fake Covid-19 certificates following the arrest of a doctor plying his trade in Marang, Terengganu, on Saturday.
Initial investigations found that around 1,900 such documents have already been sold to anti-vaxxers between RM400 and RM600 each, according to Terengganu police chief Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa.
Berita Harian reported Rohaimi as saying that the 51-year-old doctor was arrested at a private clinic in Marang, where the authorities also found and seized close to 100 certificates.
The arrest was made as part of a raid led by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, following a tip-off on the alleged criminal activity.
Rohaimi said the suspect is believed to have been conducting his operations online since September last year.
“As of today, about 1,900 individuals are believed to have already gotten the certificates, and we are investigating whether all of these are authentic or otherwise.
“During the raid, the police also confiscated related documents, vaccination appointment cards, a laptop and a telephone, among others,” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters today.
Rohaimi said the probe will be conducted jointly with the Health Ministry, including a probe into the MySejahtera details of suspected individuals.
He added that based on initial checks, the suspect had obtained approval from the Health Ministry last September to administer Covid-19 vaccines, and said some of his customers for the fake certificate include those residing in Kedah and Kuala Lumpur.
“There is no logic for these people to come to Terengganu to get their vaccines in a clinic in Marang.
“This is being investigated by the ministry.”
The suspect is currently being remanded under Section 420 of the Penal Code. – The Vibes, January 10, 2022
