KOTA KINABALU: Five senior officers from the National Registration Department (NRD) Sabah have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sabah, for alleged involvement in issuing MyKad documents.

MACC Sabah director Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, in confirming the case yesterday, disclosed that the five senior officers were among nine suspects – three women and six men – being arrested in its ongoing statewide operation code-named ‘Ops Easy Card’ involving a syndicate to get MyKad.

He said the five were a deputy director, three branch heads and a former employee of the department, while the rest of the suspects are foreign nationals from India, Pakistan and Indonesia, who were ‘middlemen’, and one applicant for the MyKad document .

All the suspects, aged between 35 and 50, are still being remanded in custody to assist in the MACC’s investigations.

The MACC also had recorded statements from 32 witnesses consisting of NRD officers, Immigration officers and civilians during the operation carried out across the State recently.

“The modus operandi of the syndicate is using agents and employees of the National Registration Department of Malaysia Sabah (JPNNS) as middlemen to enable MyKad identity card to be issued to applicants who are not eligible,” said Hishamuddin.

The MACC is investigating the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act 2009.

The seven-day remand order on three of the NRD officers will expire today (October 3), while a six-day remand order on the two other officers will end on October 5.

Meanwhile, it is learned that the NRD senior officers linked to the syndicate were involved in issuing recommendation letters in support of the applicants who were not eligible for a Malaysian Restricted Passport to Brunei from the Immigration Department.

They also assisted in processing and issuing a late birth of registration certificate to MyKad’s applications whereby the NRD was aware that the data for such applications were fake.

Following the launch of the “Ops Easy Card” operations, the MACC will step up its investigations to trace witnesses, material evidence and more suspects allegedly involved in the syndicate.