Police arrest two for selling 'Datuk' titles

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested two men in connection with the sale of "Datuk" titles.

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Amihizam Abdul Shukor said they were alerted by a private sector company director.

"We received a report from the man who claimed an acquaintance introduced him to a man named Shahidi at Taman Tun Dr Ismail on Jan 26.

"During the meeting, the suspect offered to help the victim get a Datukship from Istana Negara at RM150,000," he said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 24).

He said the victim agreed to the offer and made a RM40,000 transaction to the suspect on that same day.

"The victim said he would pay the balance once the suspect completed the job of acquiring him a Datukship.

"When the suspect failed, he gave many excuses and the victim felt cheated and lodged a police report on the matter," he said adding that the case was classified as cheating.

He said police arrested two suspects on Wednesday (Feb 23) at separate locations at Kedah to assist further investigations.

"Two mobile phones and a suspicious looking 'Setia Diraja' membership card were also seized.

"Our initial investigations revealed one of the suspects, a 48-year-old car salesman, was the main suspect and he claimed to be a private escort to a royal family and admitted to making a deals with the victim," he said.

He said further checks revealed the suspect had been involved and charged over a narcotics related crime.

"Both suspects have been remanded for three days to assist with further investigations.

"We advise the public to not be easily duped by claims and offers to acquire Datuk titles from any royal institution.

"Let this be a warning that attempting to buy such titles is a crime, " he said urging anyone with information on similar activities to come forward.

Those with information can contact the City police hotline at 03-2115 9999.