KUCHING: Eleven men have been detained to facilitate investigations into two reports about fake COVID-19 Real-Time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) results.

Sarawak Commercial CID chief Supt Maria Rasid said two police reports were lodged by Sarawak Disaster Management Committee on March 3 and 8.

"Following the reports, the department detained 11 men around Kuching district on March 7 and today (March 12) and seized a mobile phone and several SIM cards belonging to one of the men," she said at the daily COVID-19 media conference yesterday.

She said a private clinic was also investigated on suspicions of being involved in the falsification of the COVID-19 RT-PCR test results with offer of RM50 to RM100 payment for each document.

Maria said eight of the men who were detained on March 7 were released on police bail.

"The police view such counterfeiting very seriously as it is a public health issue and stern action will be taken against those who violate the law," she added.

-- BERNAMA