KUALA LUMPUR: A security guard has been arrested to assist police in investigating a forged letter bearing the name of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, which was reportedly sent to an individual in Sarawak.
The 32-year-old suspect was arrested in Samarahan, Sarawak, yesterday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the arrest was made after police received a report from a man who claimed to have received a job offer from the suspect to work as a secretary attached to the Deputy Prime Minister's office.
"The suspect had convinced him that he was a close companion to the Deputy Prime Minister," he said.
He said the complainant was convinced and handed over his documents to the suspect before he was given an appointment letter for the secretary position as well as an application for government quarters.
"The complainant then checked with one of his sisters friends who confirmed that both letters were forged.
"He then lodged a police report because he felt cheated and feared that the suspect would misuse his personal document," he said.
Razarudin said the suspect was arrested at around 12.45pm at the Samarahan District Office security post.
"Two mobile phones were also seized from the suspect.
"Based on our investigations, the suspect has worked as a security guard at the district office since 2018," he said,adding that the suspect had offered federal government positions to numerous friends including the complainant since Oct.
Razarudin said upon questioning, the suspect confessed to offering bogus jobs.
"The suspect claimed he acted as such because he wanted attention from his friends.
"He wanted them to know that he had friends in high places who could help them," he said, adding that the suspect also claimed that he never misused any of the personal documents or received any payment from his friends.
He said the suspect also said that he had destroyed the forged offer letters that he handed over to his friends using a paper shredder at the district office.
"Checks on the suspect's mobile phone revealed conversations between the suspect and complainant connected to this case.
"We have classified the case as cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code," he said adding that the suspect will be remanded to facilitate further investigations.