JASIN: A 76-year-old Felda settler from Nyalas here has lost RM55,000 after being scammed by two fraudsters who offered to sell him an enchanted, glowing diamond.
Jasin OCPD Deputy Supt Mispani Hamdan said the victim lodged a police report on Wednesday (Oct 12) after discovering the stone's purported "magical" properties were non-existent.
"The victim stopped to buy corn at a stall here on Oct 5 when he was approached by the duo.
"The suspects asked him for directions to a bookshop as they wanted to buy religious books," he said on Thursday (Oct 13).
DSP Mispani said one of the suspects noticed that the victim's wife used a walking stick, and offered the diamond which he claimed had the power to cure all ailments.
"The suspects then placed the 'diamond' in a plastic bag filled with water to convince the victim that it would light up when submerged," he said.
According to DSP Mispani, the suspects then followed the victim in his car to a bank in Tangkak, Johor, where he withdrew RM50,000.
They also collected a further RM5,000 in cash from him on the same day.
DSP Mispani said that after receiving the money, the suspects told the victim to stop at a nearby mosque so they could all perform prayers there.
"While the couple was praying, the conmen fled in another car," he added.
He said the victim then went home to test out the suspects' claims and placed it in a bucket of water.
When it continued to glow after he took it out of the water, the victim examined it and realised that he had been duped into buying a fake stone with a light source inside.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
