Fake stamps in circulation

Officers have warned the public to be alert to counterfeiters stamping documents illegally, using unauthorised stamps and signatures for their personal gain.

The Deputy Chief of the Vientiane Police Security Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Sengphet Phommaly, told Vientiane Times yesterday that officials were working to address the issue.

“All aspects of a document may be false, including the stamp, the signature and the number of the document,” Mr Sengphet said.

So far, officials have seized almost 200 fake stamps, including 56 copied from stamps belonging to various government bodies, as well as those of some business enterprises.

The fake versions have been copied from stamps used by officials and government bodies at the central level.

Mr Sengphet pointed out that some of the fake stamps had been used to process the illegal import of vehicles into the country.

“Apart from this kind of activity, we are investigating other sectors where we suspect this kind of activity is going on,” Mr Sengphet said.

He explained that the wrongdoers would later obtain legal documents for the imported vehicles.

“It is very difficult to identify which stamps are counterfeit as the ones that have been copied are almost identical to the genuine ones. We suspect that some government officials are involved in these activities,” he added.

Mr Sengphet admitted it was not easy to spot the difference between the fake and genuine stamps. He said his staff had instructions to carry out an immediate inspection on receiving information about fraudulent paperwork.

He said that with more information and cross checking in collaboration with the sectors concerned it would be easier for his staff to tackle the issue.

Officials are now in the process of handing over two traders to the court for sentencing after they were arrested in November last year for illegally importing vehicles.

“We believe they still have accomplices at large. So far they have managed to evade arrest but our officers are looking for them,” he said.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update February 13, 2008)