Under arrest: Five female Myanmar nationals were fined RM5,000 each by the Magistrate’s Court in Johor Baru for cheating their countrymen back home with fake job opportunities.
JOHOR BARU: Police raids on fraudulent call centres operating in luxury condominiums here has led to the arrest of another seven suspects, including six Chinese nationals who dupe victims into joining fake investment schemes in China.
Officers from the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) raided two condominium units and arrested the seven, in their 20s and 50s, two days ago.
This is the fifth such raid involving call centres in recent weeks in the city and Iskandar Puteri, which has netted more than 30 foreigners, comprising various nationalities including from China, Myanmar and Indonesia.
In the latest arrest, the official said the foreigners posed as customer service representatives and logistics staff, luring mostly retirees in China with promises of lucrative returns in fake investment schemes.
All suspects were recruited via social media and promised high salaries and commissions.
Police also seized an array of items in the two units including more than a dozen mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets.
Police are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The official did not discount the possibility of more arrests involving call centres in the coming days.
In a related case, five Myanmar nationals were fined RM5,000 each by the Magistrate’s Court here for cheating their countrymen back home with fake job opportunities.
The women – Yan Yone Li, 29, Thi Thi Lwin, 29, Lone Shue, 23, Shwe Nanthar Kyaw, 25, and Eaindray Phyoe, 21 – pleaded guilty to targeting Myanmar nationals by offering them non-existent jobs online.
They were charged with being part of a criminal conspiracy to commit an unlawful act at a condominium in Forest City, Gelang Patah, at around 7.30pm on Nov 12.
According to the statement of facts, when the women were detained at the scene, police also found WhatsApp exchanges between them – who used fake names and profile photos – and the victims.
The five pleaded guilty after the charge and exhibits were read and shown to them by a court interpreter yesterday.
The offence was framed under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to six months, a fine or both.
Magistrate Nabilah Nizam ordered each of the accused to pay a fine of RM5,000, in default five months’ jail.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Deana Aqilah Aliman prosecuted.
The five foreigners paid the fine.
