MIRI – A 29-year-old woman has been sentenced to two weeks in prison and fined RM1,000 by the Miri Magistrate’s Court after admitting to lodging a false police report.
The ruling was delivered on 12 June 2026 under Section 182 of the Penal Code, which criminalises the act of providing fabricated information to authorities.
The case stemmed from a report filed on 27 May 2026, in which the accused claimed she had been robbed by four men travelling in a Toyota Hilux. She alleged that the incident occurred at around 10.00pm near the roadside opposite the Miri Gospel Chapel in Pujut.
According to her statement, jewellery items including necklaces, rings, and bracelets, along with cash, were taken, amounting to losses valued at RM3,130.
Police immediately launched an investigation into the alleged robbery. However, inconsistencies in her account quickly raised doubts.
Officers found no independent witnesses to corroborate her claims, and further enquiries revealed contradictions in her version of events.
The accused, a housewife from Limbang, frequently travelled to Miri to drop off her husband, who works offshore in Pulau Melayu.
During questioning, she eventually admitted that the robbery report was fabricated. She confessed that her motive was to gain her husband’s attention, as she suspected he was involved with another woman.
Investigators later recovered all the items supposedly stolen. They were discovered hidden in the bonnet of the accused’s own vehicle, confirming that no robbery had taken place.
Miri District Police Chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee bin Abdullah underscored the seriousness of lodging false reports.
He stated that such actions waste valuable police resources, including time, manpower, and logistics, while diverting attention away from genuine criminal cases and emergencies requiring immediate response.
He reminded the public that providing accurate information is essential for effective law enforcement. “Strict action will continue to be taken against any individual who deliberately makes a false report,” he said, stressing that false claims undermine police operations and public trust.
Authorities have urged residents to cooperate by reporting only genuine incidents and to channel crime-related information directly to the Miri District Police Headquarters or the nearest police station.
Community support, they emphasised, plays a vital role in maintaining public safety and ensuring that enforcement efforts remain focused on real threats.
This case serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of misusing police services. Under Malaysian law, making a false report is punishable by imprisonment, fines, or both, reflecting the gravity of misleading authorities.
