PADAWAN: The police detained two Indonesian and three Chinese nationals suspected to have been involved in an international shaman (bomoh) syndicate during a raid at a house in Taman Stampin Tengah here last Wednesday.
Padawan District Deputy Police Chief, DSP Merbin Lisa said the suspects, aged between 27 and 52, were picked up by a team from the District Police Headquarters’ Commercial Crime Investigation Division about 5pm, following a report lodged by a local woman four hours earlier.
“The (elderly) woman claimed that she had lost RM14,000 to a syndicate. Initial investigation revealed that the suspects were believed to have deceived their victims to hand over cash and jewellery for medical purposes and ritual ceremony to get rid of bad luck,” he said at a press conference at IPD Padawan here yesterday. Merbin added the police also found RM6,618 in cash, foreign currencies, jewelleries, passports and handphones, and seized a car (Perodua Alza) which was believed to have been rented from a company in Kota Samarahan.
Elaborating, he explained that the victim was approached by the suspects on Dec 11 in Siburan town, by convincing the victim that her child would involve in a car accident.
“The suspects later offered a prayer ceremony to get rid of the bad luck and due to fear, the victim followed their instructions where she gathered all her jeweleries and money into a plastic bag and being reminded to open the plastic bag only after three days. “After three days, the victim opened the plastic bag and found that there were only two mineral water bottles and few newspapers inside.
The victim then lodge a police report,” he said. He added the suspects had targeted their victims at several locations such as wet market and supermarket as well as preying on housewives who were seen alone at specific locations.
Merbin said all the suspects were being remanded until next Monday to facilitate investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
