Kota Kinabalu: An undocumented woman was fined RM4,000 or six months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court, Friday, for having her deceased sister’s MyKad as her identification document.
Elmina Lauril, 32, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to having the identity card of one Aida Lauril bearing the serial number 840817-12-5898 on Feb 10, this year, at 4pm, at the Identity Card Section of the National Registration Department (NRD) here.
The offence, under Section 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amended 2007), carries a jail term of up to three years or fine of up to RM20,000, or both, on conviction.
NRD prosecuting officer Mohd Naser Mohd Nadzeri informed the court that on the said day, Elmina came to the department to apply for a replacement identity card and was arrested for having Aida’s MyKad, which did not belong to her.
A check of Elmina’s thumbprints revealed that they did not match those of Aida Lauril’s identity card and that her thumbprints were also not found in any records held by the Department.
Investigations revealed that Elmina claimed that the MyKad belonged to her late sister, who had passed away in 2023, but her death had not been registered.
Elmina also claimed that her sister had asked her to use the identity card as her own after her death, as Elmina did not have any identification documents.
The Magistrate ordered Elmina to be referred to the Immigration Department after paying the fine or serving the imprisonment sentence.
