KUANTAN: A 25-year-old man wanted by the police in connection with a parcel scam syndicate was arrested after cheating an oil rig worker of RM27,800 in cash two years ago.
The suspect from Penang had been high on the police list after he allegedly cheated several victims in different states throughout the country was nabbed at the Pekan police station after he arrived to facilitate investigations today.
The suspect's activities came to light after a 45-year-old victim from Jerantut who lost part of his saving lodged a report.
In the incident, the victim an oil rig worker claimed that he had befriended a Malaysian woman who lives in United Kingdom on the Facebook on Feb 2, 2016 where the woman later told him that she plans to return to Malaysia.
On March 2, 2016 the woman informed that she needed his assistance to buy her a house and car, so that she could return and settle down here.
She sent him a package containing 120,000 British Pounds(RM658,110) along with a camera, watch, handphone, jersey and flowers as a present for his generosity.
Two days later, the victim received a phone call from a man from the courier agency asking him to pay some cash as the package was over the weight limit.
Suspecting nothing amiss, he immediately went to the bank in Jerantut and deposited RM2,500 about 10.40am on March2, 2016 before returning an hour later to bank in another RM7,500 into the same account.
Later that afternoon, he deposited RM17,800 into another bank account and later feared that was cheated when the package did not arrive as promised and subsequently lodged a police report.
State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the suspect is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He said police is are in the midst of recording his statement and a remand will be applied at the Jerantut magistrate court tomorrow.
"Checks revealed that the suspect’s bank account was also involved in cases reported in Sungai Senam, Ipoh; Dungun, Sungai Petani, Gombak, Taman Universiti, Inanam, Pandan Indah, Seapark, Sungai Buloh and Tanah Merah. He is also wanted for similar cases in Cheras, Tampoi and Baling," he said.
Translated from Berita Harian