A former student of Hong Kong Polytechnic University has been arrested after he allegedly submitted fake academic documents to the university. Police are now investigating the case following a report made by university staff.
The suspect is a 22-year-old man who previously studied electrical engineering at the university. According to information obtained from people familiar with the case, a staff member reported the matter to police on Wednesday afternoon after concerns were raised about several academic records.
The report claims the former student submitted one forged certificate and two fake academic transcripts. Investigators are now examining the documents to determine how they were created and whether they were used to gain or keep academic status at the university.
Police have not released the identity of the man because the investigation is still ongoing. Authorities are expected to review the documents and collect further evidence before deciding on the next legal steps.
The former student joined the university in 2022 to study electrical engineering. However, he was asked to leave the programme in May last year because of poor academic performance, according to a source familiar with the matter.
It is not yet clear when the alleged fake documents were submitted or for what purpose they were used. Investigators are working to establish a full timeline of events and determine whether any other people were involved.
University staff alerted police after identifying possible problems with the academic records. The case was then handed over to law enforcement officers for further investigation.
Cases involving forged academic documents are treated seriously because universities rely on official records to confirm a student’s qualifications and academic history. Educational institutions often have procedures to verify certificates and transcripts when concerns are raised.
Police are expected to examine the authenticity of each document as part of the investigation. Officers may also compare the records with official university files and other educational documents to determine whether they were altered or created fraudulently.
At this stage, authorities have not announced any formal charges against the former student. An arrest allows investigators to question a suspect while they continue gathering evidence. Any decision on prosecution will depend on the findings of the investigation.
The university has not publicly commented on additional details of the case. It is also unknown whether the alleged documents were submitted during the student’s enrollment or after he left the institution.
Academic fraud can take many forms, including forged certificates, altered transcripts, or false qualifications. Universities often review suspicious records carefully to protect the integrity of their admission and academic systems.
Investigators will likely interview university staff and review records related to the student’s enrollment. Digital files and communication linked to the documents may also be examined to understand how the alleged forgery took place.
Authorities have not said whether the investigation has identified any other forged documents or possible victims. They also have not indicated whether additional arrests are expected.
Under Hong Kong’s legal system, a person who is arrested is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Police investigations are carried out to gather evidence before prosecutors decide whether charges should be filed.
The investigation remains active, and officials are expected to release more information if new facts become available. For now, police continue to examine the alleged forged certificate and two academic transcripts while working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case.
