15-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) A 48-year-old Singaporean man, Mohamad Norrahhi Noman, has been sentenced to five months in jail for providing a forged Singapore identity card (IC) to an Indonesian cleaner. Two additional charges, involving the provision of a forged IC to a second Indonesian man and the possession of a forged IC, were considered during sentencing.
The case revolves around 28-year-old Onky Febrian, an Indonesian man who arrived in Singapore on October 31 last year and stayed with Norrahhi at his residence in Boon Lay Drive.
Norrahhi collected S$550 (US$405) from Onky as a fee for job offers and provided him with a fake Singapore IC bearing a different identity.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) stated that this counterfeit IC was a laminated card designed to resemble an identity card, intended for use in identification when requested by Onky’s employer.
Following Norrahhi’s instructions, Onky returned to Indonesia on November 15, 2022, after working in Singapore for 14 days.
In November of the same year, Onky introduced 23-year-old Asrul Muzahar, another Indonesian, to Norrahhi. Asrul was also interested in seeking employment in Singapore.
Onky and Asrul returned to Singapore on January 8 this year and stayed with Norrahhi. Both paid S$200 each for fake Singapore ICs, each bearing different identities.
ICA reported that Norrahhi cautioned them to memorize the details listed on these false identity documents and not to disclose their true nationality to anyone.
On January 12, during a routine check, police officers noticed discrepancies between the details on Onky and Asrul’s identification documents, including photographs, and their actual identities. Consequently, they were arrested for possessing forged Singapore ICs and were referred to the ICA.
On January 20, Onky and Asrul were convicted and sentenced to two months in prison each.
Subsequent investigations conducted by the ICA led to the identification and arrest of Norrahhi at his residence on January 31.
The ICA emphasized its stern stance on individuals in possession of forged ICs and those facilitating such possession.
Under the National Registration Act, individuals convicted of knowingly possessing a forged identity card may face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both. The same penalties apply to anyone who abets such an offense.
