JOHOR BARU: A honey product trader lost more than RM100,000 after being lured into investing in a cattle-rearing project in Thailand by a businessman with a “Datuk” title.
Mazli Hamzah, 37, said he first met the businessman in 2024 and exchanged contact numbers with him for business networking purposes.
“In March this year, he called me saying he wanted to meet as he was interested in helping grow my business, including marketing my product overseas.
“We met frequently after that, but in July, he told me about a business opportunity involving investment in a cattle-rearing farm in Thailand, where the cows were meant for Hari Raya Aidiladha,” he said during a press conference at a shopping mall here on Monday (July 28).
Mazli added that he was initially sceptical about the offer, but the man, who is in his 40s, later brought him to meet a Tabung Haji officer at Menara Tabung Haji in the city centre.
He claimed that both men mostly discussed the cattle-rearing project, which convinced him that it was a legitimate business opportunity.
“Earlier this month, I handed the businessman more than RM100,000. Soon after that, he kept asking me for more money, which made me suspect that he just wanted my money.
“Everything was done verbally, with no black-and-white agreement between us. However, he did provide me with a receipt after I gave him the money to invest,” he said.
Mazli added that he continued calling the businessman for updates on the investment, but his calls and WhatsApp messages went unanswered.
“I then went to his restaurant in Bandar Dato Onn and saw him sitting a few tables away. I called his mobile phone, which he glanced at but ignored.
“When I approached him, he saw me and immediately left the restaurant,” he said, adding that he has since lodged a police report.
It is learnt that the businessman was fined RM200,000 by the Sessions Court here last year for using a fake “Datuk” title from Pahang.
He had admitted to fraudulently using a letter of endorsement for recipients of a degree, medal or award from Pahang Darul Makmur, believed to be a fake document.
The businessman also pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of displaying the Darjah Indera Mahkota Negeri Pahang emblem on his vehicle at the same time and place, which was also believed to be fake.
When contacted, Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat confirmed that a police report had been lodged and said investigations were ongoing.
He added that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
