Police in Pekan have arrested three people, including a woman, over allegations that they were selling and forging medical leave certificates. The arrests came after the District Health Office lodged a report on June 10 following a tip-off from someone claiming to have purchased one of the fraudulent documents.

The three detainees, all aged in their 30s and comprising a mechanic, workshop proprietor and cleaner, were taken into custody around 3 pm on June 15, according to Pekan police chief Supt Mohd Zaidi Mat Zin. Investigators believe the trio functioned as go-betweens in what appears to be a coordinated criminal enterprise.

According to the police statement, a member of the public reported buying a medical certificate from an individual who allegedly sourced it from a government clinic in exchange for payment. The forged documents were sold at between RM50 and RM200 per certificate. The medical officer whose credentials were used on the certificates confirmed he had relocated to a different facility in 2023 and that the official stamp employed was outdated and no longer authorised.

The scheme operated with clear organisational structure, the police chief explained, with the three suspects tasked with finding potential buyers and handling transactions. Investigators are currently pursuing the primary suspect, believed to be a female government healthcare worker stationed at a clinic, who allegedly supplied the forged certificates to the intermediaries.

The three suspects face court proceedings at Pekan Magistrate's Court for a remand application, with the investigation proceeding under Sections 468 and 420 of the Penal Code, which address forgery and cheating respectively.