Kota Kinabalu: A 19-year-old woman was sentenced to 11 months in prison by the Magistrate’s Court for providing false information when applying for a replacement identity card belonging to someone else.
Sarah pleaded guilty before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to committing the offence at the National Registration Department (NRD) on Sept 20 at 10.30am.
The offence, under Regulation 25(1)(b) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amendment 2007), carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.
Prosecuting officer Mohamad Faizal Tahir informed the court that on the day in question, Sarah approached the NRD Sabah Identification Card Division Counter to apply for a replacement identity card in the name of Noralisah Asliah.
She submitted a birth certificate in that name, along with a police report regarding the loss of the identity card.
However, a comparison of Sarah’s thumbprint revealed that it did not match the identity card record in the NRD database.
Further investigation showed that the identity card number she sought to replace had already been issued to another individual.
The case was subsequently referred to the Sabah NRD Investigation and Enforcement Division for further action.
During questioning, Sarah admitted that her real name was Sarah and that she was born in Pulau Gaya.
She also confessed that the birth certificate she presented was not hers and that had obtained it from an uncle, and had used it since childhood for school and work.
The Magistrate ordered Sarah to serve her sentence from the date of her arrest and to be referred to the Immigration Department thereafter.
Sarah, who has no documents, was not represented by legal counsel.
.jpg)
