KOTA KINABALU: A “shaman” syndicate offering services to tell fortunes, remove bad luck, among others, has been busted after allegedly cheating people up to a tune of RM600,000.
Twelve people, including China nationals, were arrested following raids in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau and Kota Belud over the weekend (Aug 8-9).
Sabah Deputy Commissioner, Datuk Mohd Azhar Hamin said the arrests involved 10 women and two men believed to be linked to the syndicate.
"The total estimated losses are about RM600,000 and investigations are being conducted for cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code," he said.
In the operation, he said police also seized 13 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards, seven passports, and cash in Malaysian Ringgit, Chinese Renminbi (RMB) and Thai Baht totalling about RM20,000. Also seized were five vehicles.
"In the Kota Kinabalu and Keningau raids last Saturday (Aug 8), police arrested four individuals before continuing the operation in Kota Belud the next day.
"In Kota Belud, eight more suspects, including seven Chinese women, were arrested," he said Thursday (Aug 13).
DCP Mohd Azhar said investigations found that the syndicate used a modus operandi of approaching victims before offering help related to traditional medicine, illness treatment, or prayer rituals to remove bad luck.
The suspects would then introduce another woman who claimed she could tell fortunes, provide treatment, or perform certain rituals.
"The victim was then persuaded to hand over cash or jewellery supposedly for prayer, chants, or religious ceremonies.
"The cash or jewellery was then taken away or swapped with other items placed in a plastic bag," he said, adding that victims were told not to open the plastic bag for a certain period to give the suspects time to escape.
He said the syndicate is believed to have been involved in at least five to six reported cases and has been active since early this year, including in areas around Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Sandakan.
DCP Mohd Azhar said the operation was carried out by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department from the state headquarters with the cooperation of the district police Commercial Crime Investigation Division.
He said suspects for the Kota Kinabalu case were remanded until Aug 14 and the investigation has been referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor.
He added that the suspects in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan are expected to be charged soon.
He also advised the public not to easily fall for individuals offering treatment services, fortune-telling, or rituals to remove bad luck that ask for cash and jewellery.
"If you detect any such suspicious activity, members of the public are urged to lodge a police report immediately.
"Any individual who has been a victim of a syndicate with the same modus operandi is also urged to come forward to lodge a report to assist with investigations," he said.
