SIBU: A 38-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly cheating 37 people of a total of RM1mil in a non-existent housing scheme.
Sibu OCPD Asst Comm Zulkipli Suhaili said police arrested the suspect on May 27 following reports lodged by the victims.
"The woman was believed to have cheated her victims from 2019 to 2023 into buying houses in Sibujaya at below market price," he said.
She had quoted RM120,000 and RM180,000 as the price for a terrace house and semi-detached house respectively.
"The victims had paid cash for the house deposit and legal fees to the suspect. They were issued with receipts as well as a sale and purchase agreement," said ACP Zulkipli.
The victims unwittingly introduced the scheme to their family members and friends without knowing that it was a scam.
He added that when the victims queried about the housing development, they were given various reasons by the suspect.
ACP Zulkipli said the victims only realised that they had been conned when they found that the site for their housing project was not marked for residential purposes.
The suspect was later charged with 40 counts of cheating on Tuesday (May 30) under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
