Aichi Prefectural Police headquarters is seen in this file photo, taken in Naka Ward, Nagoya, on Feb. 27, 2019. (Mainichi/Hiroki Sameshima)

NAGOYA -- Two foreign residents have been arrested by police on suspicion of forging certificates for a national Japanese language test.

Qohar Zamil Nacep, 21, an Indonesian national residing in Kota, Aichi Prefecture, who works in manufacturing, and Duy Hanh Ngo, 28, a Vietnamese company employee living in Nagoya's Moriyama Ward, were both under arrest by Aichi Prefectural Police as of Aug. 21 on suspicion of counterfeiting official documents.

The pair is accused of forging Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certificates. Both reportedly admitted to the charges.

Foreign nationals that hold the qualification can improve their lives in Japan, such as by widening employment prospects. According to police, Ngo told them, "You can obtain a stable status in Japan (with a JLPT certificate)."

Prefectural police have found JLPT certificates for eight other Vietnamese nationals and are investigating to see if they are fake.

The suspects allegedly conspired with others by around March to forge the documents. Nacep reportedly told police, "People sent their name and address through Facebook, along with a headshot. Then they paid between 11,000 and 15,000 yen to a specific bank account."

The certificates were then sent by airmail from China. Police are now investigating whether a base of operations for the forgeries exists in that country.

(Japanese original by Shintaro Iguchi, Nagoya News Center)