KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Five individuals, including a woman, were fined between RM14,000 and RM14,500 by three different Sessions Courts today for using forged documents to register the births of five babies between 2022 and 2023.
Judges Rosli Ahmad and Suzana Hussin imposed a RM14,000 fine each on operations executive Er Chew Chin, 46; car repossessor Wong Liang Fong, 40; and farmer Tey Tian Teck, 49, after they pleaded guilty to two charges each.
Separately, sales manager Yoong Chin Wee, 44, and general worker Chong Yi Lin, 28, were fined RM14,500 each by Judge Azura Alwi after they pleaded guilty to two similar charges.
They were also ordered to serve prison sentences ranging from one to six months in default of payment. All of them settled the fines.
The five accused were charged with two counts each of using forged birth registration and notification forms to register the birth of five infants in the name of Chong Yi Lin and the wives of the four male accused, featuring the fabricated signatures and stamps of two doctors.
The offences were committed at the National Registration Department headquarters in Putrajaya between June 17, 2022 and May 10, 2023. They were charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
According to the case facts, the wives of Er, Tey, Yoong, and Chong, had no medical records of giving birth. The infants were adopted through agents and individuals for sums ranging from RM18,000 to RM70,000.
The four accused used the false documents to register the babies as their biological children to obtain a MyKid, while Wong used the documents to register his illegitimate child as his legitimate child.
In a separate proceeding before Judge Rosli, restaurant owner Chee Keng Tiong, 55, pleaded not guilty to two similar charges. The court released him on a RM15,000 bail with one surety, impounded his passport pending the conclusion of the case, and fixed November 5 for mention.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin and Asmaa' Zamri, along with prosecuting officer Mohd Alimi Mustapha, appeared for the prosecution, while counsel Goh Han Koon represented Wong and Chong.
Meanwhile, Tey was represented by counsel Adhwa' Afiqah Mohd Azmi, while Shenton Maniam represented Er and Yoong.