Cops nab four for soliciting 'donations' at Melaka Ramadan bazaars

MELAKA: Police have detained three foreigners for collecting “donations” at Ramadan bazaars here.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zainol Samah said apart from the foreigners, a 35-year-old local man was also detained in an operation that started at 7.30pm on Wednesday (March 29) following a public tip-off.

He said the foreigners, aged between 33 and 46, were led by the local man to solicit 'donations' from the public under the pretext of building a religious school in a neighbouring country.

"The group is believed to have racked up donations of up to RM500 in a day," he said on Thursday (March 30).

DCP Zainol said the operation conducted at several Ramadan bazaars was conducted jointly with the Melaka Welfare Department.

He said the documents produced by the foreigners were suspicious and aimed to dupe people into giving them money.

He said the local suspect claimed that he was a canteen operator at a school in Kuantan, Pahang.

"The suspect had also admitted that he provided accommodation for the foreigners at a hotel on Jalan Tun Perak here during the Ramadan month," he said.

DCP Zainol added that all the suspects will be asked to assist in the investigation under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007.

Offenders could be punished with a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine if found guilty.