KOTA TINGGI: Two women were each sentenced to five days in jail and fined RM3,000 after pleading guilty to fraudulently using forged medical certificates (MCs).
Magistrate Nur Najihah Hamidi handed down the sentence to Alia Mysarah Hairol, 23, and Nurin Atiqah Kamalrudin, 22, after the charge was read out to them.
The court ordered their jail terms to take effect from the dates of their arrest.
They will serve an additional three days in jail each if they fail to pay the fines.According to the charge, the women had jointly used a medical certificate as genuine, knowing that it was forged.
The offence was committed at a hardware shop in Jalan Tun Sri Lanang here.
They were charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 465 of the same code, read together with Section 34.
If convicted, the offence carries a maximum jail term of two years, a fine, or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Nuraini Mohd Shapee prosecuted, while the two women were represented by National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) lawyer Hilmi Sulaiman Salahuddin.
Based on the facts of the case, on Oct 5, a medical officer who lodged the complaint was informed by clinic staff that someone had forged a medical certificate bearing the officer's name and signature.
The medical officer then lodged a police report.
On Oct 2, Alia Mysarah's employer was notified that she had been issued a medical certificate. However, the employer became suspicious and checked with the clinic.
The verification revealed that the certificate was fake, prompting the employer to lodge a police report in Senai.
Police arrested both women in Kota Tinggi two days ago.
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