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SCMP Reporter

Chongqing  police have cracked what they say is their biggest counterfeit document case in a decade, arresting at least 20 people and seizing thousands of fake certificates.
The counterfeit papers covered all cradle-to-grave documentation needs, including citizen  identity cards, diplomas, birth certificates, land-use licences, driving licences and various business licences, Xinhua reported yesterday.
In addition, police seized 300 soldier IDs, 900 copies of private and military car  licences and 5,000 certificates for dozens of government departments.
A Chongqing police commander, Zhao Liming , said the group had established a  production chain that was shocking because of the havoc it could wreak with  the management of society.
Mr Zhao said police even uncovered counterfeit government seals, including State Council chops.
'There was nothing the group could not fake if you needed it,' he said.
The two main suspects, Chongqing residents Wang Huaixi  and Zhao Xianyun , were arrested following a tip-off in March and a three-month investigation.
The investigation culminated in the discovery of four plants for producing fraudulent documents, belonging to Wang and Zhao Xianyun, who police said had set up the operation last year and hired family members to run it.
The authorities described the gang as a professional and organised group that had built up a complete industry chain from raw material supply to production, wholesale and retail branches.
The authorities found 34 professional printing and moulding machines and 16,000 moulds for counterfeiting documents.
'They were producing fake certificates with the same professional skill as the official ones. It's very hard for common people to tell the false ones,' the police said.
Wang Qiuhua ,  a law expert at Shenzhen University, said the rampant market in fraudulent documents had greatly damaged the mainland's credit systems and public security.
Professor Wang said the bust  had dealt the fake document industry a great blow - especially to makers of personal IDs - and would help the police track criminals and stabilise society.
She also said the authorities should punish officials and employees who used fake certificates to get jobs or promotions, to restore public faith in the system.
In December, a former school official was arrested for helping 52 teachers at a Guangxi  school buy fake certificates attesting to their computer proficiency and language skills so they could apply for promotions.
Three months earlier, the authorities in Urumqi , Xinjiang , incinerated 630,000 counterfeit documents seized in the city in  one year.



Counterfeiting ring  busted; thousands  of certificates seized