KUANTAN: A durian wholesaler who assumed he had secured a major deal to sell the "king of fruits" ended up being cheated of some RM414,000 in a bogus business venture.
The 29-year-old company owner did not receive a single sen of the promised payment from the sales of the fruits where the alleged buyer had claimed to have made 26 transactions (payments).
The incident unfolded on June 30, when the victim from Raub, was contacted by an individual claiming he wanted to strike a deal to purchase durian fruits in huge quantities.
Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the suspect, impersonating as a potential customer, claimed he wanted to purchase 10 baskets of Grade A and B Musang King varieties estimated around RM7,800.
"The suspect promised to send his worker to meet the victim and pick the fruits. A worker later met the victim at his premises and provided proof that RM7,800 payment for the fruits had been deposited by his employer (the suspect).
"Thinking it was a genuine deal, the victim continued doing business with the suspect between July 1 and July 27. The payments were allegedly transferred online directly to the victim's company bank account," he said today.
Wazir said when the victim checked his company's bank account on July 27, he realised the promised payments for the fruits were missing from the account.
"When the victim checked with the financial institution, he was informed that the RM414,932 in payments which were allegedly deposited on 26 occasions did not exist. He immediately lodged a police report.
"The suspect only paid during the first deal on June 30 to gain the victim's trust. Later, the buyer did not make any further payments," he said.
Wazir said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping, and a fine if convicted.