He had been under remand for more than a year.

Lai Chin Wah, 56, was one of six people — including a National Registration Department top official in Penang — charged with 32 counts of selling MyKad and birth certificates to foreigners.

After his arrest, Lai was charged under Sosma on Sept 12, 2019, which allows detention without trial for 28 days.

He later faced two charges under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom) and the Penal Code for selling identity documents to a Chinese national, Wang Dequn, identified as “Ewe Chor Beng” on his MyKad.

Lai’s Penal Code charge under Section 466 involves the forgery of a public register of births, while Section 26E of the Atipsom charge was for selling fake identity documents to facilitate the smuggling of migrants.

On July 17, he was allowed bail of RM25,000 with one surety in the Atipsom case at the direction of judge Amirudin Abd Rahman. His passport was impounded.

Today, Lai’s lawyer Sivahnanthan Ragava pleaded for the court to allow bail for the Penal Code offence as Lai faced medical problems.

He said Lai had a respiratory illness and osteoporosis of the left knee, among other medical issues.

Judge Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid allowed Lai bail of RM10,000 with one surety for the Penal Code offence. He also ordered Lai to report to the nearest police station every week.

Lai, who has been in remand since Sept 12 last year, posted bail.