A local female, Alina binti Mohd Ariffin, who worked as a freelance agent, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment yesterday after found guilty by the Court on 4 charges under section 6 'C. of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 131, for offences of submitting documents to the Department of Immigration and National Registration which contained false particulars.

Investigations conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed that the Defendant had offered to obtain a green identity card to four foreign nationals from Indonesia and Philippines, who held a social visit pass, for a fee between $1,200 and $1,800. Upon received of such payments, the Defendant then submitted four green identity card application forms to the registration clerk at the Identity Card Section at the Department of the Immigration and National Registration, in which the defendant knew that the application forms contained a material particular which is false, whereby it was stated that the applicants were employed as drivers or domestic workers respectively, and to the Defendant's knowledge was done with the intention to mislead the Department of Immigration and National Registration.

The defendant was found guilty after trial before the Honourable Senior Magistrate Hajah Ervy Sufitriana binti Haji Abdul Rahman who sentenced the defendant to a total of 12 months imprisonment with effect from 24th of May 2022. In delivering the sentence, the Honourable Senior Magistrate took into account the current medical condition of the Defendant who has to undergo dialysis treatment weekly. However, considering the gravity of the offence committed by the defendant, an imprisonment sentence is warranted. The prosecution of this case was conducted by Prosecuting Officer, Shamshuddin bin Haji Kamaluddin. The ACB reminds the public that submitting documents containing false particulars to any government department or agency with the intention to mislead such department or agency is a serious offence under Section 6 'C' of the Prevention of Corruption Act that can be punished with a penalty of 7 years imprisonment and $30,000 fine.

Source: Radio Television Brunei