LABUAN: Police here crippled an online investment scam syndicate following a raid on a local premises, resulting in the arrest of 57 individuals.
The 8.40am operation was the result of intelligence gathered by the Sabah Contingent Police Headquarters’ Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) in collaboration with CCID teams from several Sabah districts and Labuan.
Of those detained, 48 were Chinese nationals, eight from Vietnam and one was a Malaysian.
A police spokesperson said preliminary investigations indicate the syndicate had been targeting victims in South Korea through various online platforms.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 46, consist of 50 men and seven women.
“The syndicate is believed to have been operating from the premises since April this year. The location also served as a hostel for the members,” the spokesperson said.
Police seized an array of electronic equipment and items believed to be used for the fraudulent activities. The total value of the seized assets is estimated at RM131,500.
All suspects were subsequently brought to the Labuan Magistrate’s Court for a remand application under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to facilitate further investigations into the scam operations.
