Two arrested in Sibu over Liberian job scam (Updated)

SIBU: Two persons have been arrested in connection with a scam in which eight Sarawakians were sent to Liberia purportedly to a logging camp that would pay them a high salary of RM8,000 a month.

Sarawak commercial crime investigation department chief Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said on Tuesday (March 5) that the two suspects were detained after one of the victims lodged a police report the night before at the Sibu airport upon arrival from KLIA.

The first suspect was detained by his Sibu counterpart at a place outside the Sibu Central police station. The other person was picked up from a house on Jalan Cherry. 

"The 40-year old complainant from Kapit said in his report that sometime in December last year, he received a message on Wechat from a man who offered him a job at a logging camp in Liberia. 

"He was told that the man would process his working permit and he would get a salary of up to RM8,000 a month, free food and drinks, while his air ticket to Liberia would be the responsibility of the company there," said Supt Mustafa.

He said the victim and seven others agreed to take up the offer and met with the man to arrange their visas and air tickets.

"On Jan 3, the eight persons were accompanied by a man to Liberia, and when they arrived there, another man brought them to a village in Mount Barclay," he added.

However, after one month there, they found that there were no still jobs.

"They were forced to sell their handphones and watches to buy daily necessities. They were brought back to Malaysia on March 3 and arrived at Sibu Airport at 9.15pm on the same day," he added.

Supt Mustafa said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.