KOTA KINABALU: An online scam centre targeting South Korean victims and operating out of four luxury bungalows in Tawau was busted by the police with the arrest of 28 foreigners.
It is learnt that 28 people – 27 Chinese nationals including a woman and a Vietnamese woman – were arrested by the police team during the raid at the premises at about 9.30pm on Wednesday (May 7).
The suspects, aged between 21 and 59 years old, were detained by the police team led by the commercial crime investigation team from Tawau district police headquarters together with its Strike Force and Task Force from the Internal Security and Public Order Department
The suspects are believed to have targeted South Koreans by offering fake online investments for stocks using the WhatsApp, Telegram and KakaoTalk social media platforms.
All suspects were brought to a Tawau Magistrate's Court here Thursday morning for a remand application to assist investigations.
Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin allowed a four-day remand until Monday (May 11) for all suspects, following an application by Inspector Siti Dayana Adillah.
It is learnt that police were recording statements from all suspects and looking for any other syndicate members and its network.
Police had seized 33 mobile phones, laptops and two WiFi modems believed to have been used for the scam while the bungalows were used for their work as well accommodation for syndicate members.
