License forger faces serious charges

A teenager facing charges relating to forging driver licenses and selling them for money to foreign students was awaiting a North Shore City court verdict at press time.

Seventeen-year-old Cambodian student Marcus Lim was arrested by the Watiemata Police and taken to court for the alleged offenses.

He was released on bail but was due to appear in court yesterday (November 30).

He was among six other students arrested for using or making forged driver licenses and for encouraging others to surrender their false documents.

The police launched an intensive investigation after they discovered that the North Shore based students were using plausible forged licenses for purchasing alcohol, visiting casinos and gambling places and for driving.

In all the cases, the forged licenses showed that the holders were 18 years of age or more.

The police seized Lim’s computer and found a database of hundreds of names of people who had apparently expressed an interest in obtaining a forged driver’s license.

Detective Sergeant James Watson encouraged perpetrators, accomplices and victims to inform the local police.

“It is illegal to use a forged document for any purpose,” he said.

It is understood that the Police have located a number of persons who had paid $100 to the forger for their license.

“Most of them are 17-year-old students from 15 schools in the Auckland region.

“We are investigating those who are either uncooperative or have sinister motives with a view to prosecution,” Sergeant Watson said.

Those with information may call the North Shore Crime Control Unit on 0800-243892.