People are being urged to refrain from forging official documents, regardless of how minor the alteration may seem, as such acts could lead to severe legal consequences, including up to 10 years in prison.
Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar emphasised that any modification to official documents – whether altering numbers, images or signatures – constitutes a criminal offence that is punishable by law.
Col Dr Bahar recently spoke on the Al Aman show on social media, where he stressed the importance of honesty and transparency in official dealings.
“Article 270 of the Penal Code states that any alteration of official or private documents will be considered forgery,” said Col Dr Bahar.
“If you forge a document or knowingly use one forged by somebody else, the penalty remains the same. Such acts harm the public interest and are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.”
Col Dr Bahar outlined the specific actions that constitute forgery and urged people to avoid them under any circumstances.
“Any addition or deletion of numbers in an official document constitutes forgery,” he pointed out.
“Similarly, adding or removing images, or making any unauthorised alterations to them, is also forgery.
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“Attributing a signature to someone other than the rightful owner of a document is a crime.
“Submitting a document bearing the signature of a person who is unaware, or who was coerced or deceived into signing, is also a serious offence.
“It is not just about alterations. Imitating a document, whether you created it yourself or copied it from someone else, is punishable by law.
“If you knowingly submit a document that has been illegally altered in any way, you cannot claim innocence simply because you did not commit the forgery yourself.
“Basically, any act that changes the truth in official documents, in any form, could land you in prison.”
Col Dr Bahar also warned employers and employees to avoid forging documents such as medical certificates, even if taken for just one day, as this falls under anti-forgery laws.
“Forging a medical certificate for sick leave is, without a doubt, one of the most absurd crimes I can think of,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if it is just for one day, it is still a crime.
“Whether it is an employer, employee or a student seeking to postpone his exams, it can land you in serious trouble.
“Imagine ending up in prison for up to 10 years of your life simply because you didn’t want to attend one day of work or school.”
The GDN previously reported on a case in August, where a Health Ministry administrative worker was found guilty of forging a medical report to help a man with sickle cell disease go into disability-related retirement and receive benefits.
She was sentenced to a year in prison and fined BD1,000 by the High Criminal Court for using her position as a public sector employee to falsify government records, a ruling upheld later by the appeals court.
In September, a man who forged his own death certificate to claim life insurance worth $500,000 (BD188,500) was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
His brother, who was his accomplice in the scheme, was also jailed for 10 years, while his wife, who falsely reported his death to authorities, was sentenced to a year behind bars.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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