KUCHING: A businessman lost RM900,000 to two ‘bomoh’ who claimed they could help him to recover from illnesses resulting from being possessed by spirits.
The 60-year-old man was with his wife when he was approached by the two in the Padawan area last month.
The duo told the couple that both of them were suffering serious illnesses caused by spirits and they must seek traditional treatment immediately.
State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said the suspects, who later claimed they were actually bomoh with the ability to conduct healing rituals for spirit possession.
"Feeling shocked and worried, the man immediately requested for treatment and followed all the instructions given and paid the two men," he said when contacted.
"The suspects were confident that the couple had fallen into their trap and continued to request for more money to conduct other on the pretext of protecting their family members. The ‘bomoh’ told the couple that failure to do so would cause their family to face a series of misfortune events," he said.
The victim even sold off his assets such as vehicles, land and property, as to pay for various treatments and the 'healing' process.
After several payments amounting to RM900,000 were made, the businessman noticed that nothing had changed or improved in his health.
Feeling something amiss, he lodged a police report on Friday.
"The victim believed he had been hypnotised, hence, causing him to agree with all sorts of requests by the bomoh.
At the time, he was also in a state of panic, as the suspects used the tactic of placing their target on the family, causing the victim to fail to think rationally," said Mustafa.
The police have identified the suspects and are in the process to detect their locations and hideout.
"We are confident to nab the suspects as soon as possible," he added.