Police in Pekan have detained three individuals in connection with the illegal sale and forgery of medical leave certificates. The arrests on June 15 followed a complaint filed by the District Health Office on June 10 regarding fraudulent documents being circulated in the community.

The three detainees, all in their 30s, included a mechanic, a workshop owner and a cleaner, 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 operation, with responsibilities divided between sourcing clients and handling transactions.

Authorities discovered that the forged certificates were being peddled for RM50 to RM200 each. The medical officer whose credentials appeared on the documents confirmed that he had relocated to a different position in 2023 and that the official stamp was outdated and no longer authorised for use.

The scheme allegedly involved a female civil servant employed at a clinic who supplied the fraudulent medical leave certificates to the intermediaries for distribution. Police say the operation was structured and systematic, with clear divisions of labour among those involved.

The three suspects are scheduled to appear before Pekan Magistrate's Court for a remand hearing. Investigations are proceeding under Sections 468 and 420 of the Penal Code, which address forgery and cheating offences. Authorities continue searching for the primary suspect believed to have initiated the supply chain.