KUALA LUMPUR: As the hunt against fugitive Datuk Seri Nicky Liow Soon Hee continues, police have arrested 68 members linked to him, including two Datuk Seri and six Datuk.
In a press conference here yesterday Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said Liow, who has been linked to Macau Scam syndicate operations here, was believed to have at least 34 law enforcement agency personnel under his payroll, including a former deputy public prosecutor to act as a fixer for the syndicate.
According to the Inspector-General of Police, police began massive operations to cripple the syndicate after receiving a police report on the bogus sale of a cellphone worth RM1,500 in Pontian, Johor.
“That is the beauty of doing thorough investigations. The investigations led us straight to the Winner Dynasty Group led by Liow, 33.
“We conducted the eight-day operation, dubbed Ops Pelican 3.0, to cripple the syndicate beginning March 20.
“The task force consisting of 220 personnel conducted 70 operations to trace and arrest the group led by Liow, founder of the Group which is based at Setiawalk, Puchong.
“We arrested 118 individuals during these raids, including Liow’s two younger brothers (aged 28 and 30), ” he told reporters at Bukit Aman yesterday.
He said they detained 42 men and six women under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act consisting of 30 Malaysians and 18 China nationals.
“We also detained 10 Chinese men, one Chinese woman and a Myanmar woman for offences under the Immigration Act while eight Malaysian men were also arrested after they tested positive for drugs.
“We seized RM773,145.78 worth of assorted currencies, and sixteen vehicles including a Rolls Royce and Bentley worth an estimated RM6.67mil, ” he said, adding that Liow was believed to have fled with an unknown amount of cash after being tipped-off about the impending raids, where police also seized a pistol and 40 bullets.
Abdul Hamid said investigations revealed that several dozen law enforcement personnel, including police personnel, were aiding and receiving payment from the syndicate.
“One of those arrested during the raids was a former deputy public prosecutor.
“We believe this individual was involved due to his network of connections with law enforcement agencies, ” he said, adding that investigations also revealed that Liow had connections to international organised crime elements including the notorious Wan Kouk Koi @ Broken Tooth.
“Broken Tooth was blacklisted by the US Treasury in Dec last year for suspected involvement in international organised crime and money laundering activities.
“Our investigations revealed that Broken Tooth who is the founder of the Hongmen World History and Culture Association had appointed Liow as the vice-president of the association on Jan 4,2019.
“The Hongmen World History and Culture Association has also been blacklisted by the US Treasury, ” said Abdul Hamid, who said the government had frozen 41 bank accounts with RM4.05mil in them, and seized RM8.86mil worth of vehicles from 21 individuals and 16 entities, including the Yayasan Winner Emperor Sedunia and Pertubuhan Integrity Nicky Liow Malaysia under Section 44(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who led the operations, also attended the press conference.
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