KOTA KINABALU: Police have arrested two people, including a woman, who were suspected to be involved in property frauds in the state capital.
Both suspects, aged 47 and 48, were arrested by a police team from the Commercial Crime Investigation Department at a premises in Karamunsing here at 12.55pm on April 24.
It is believed that the suspects were involved in 17 property frauds with the victims losing RM1.5 million through selling non-existent construction projects and bungalow units.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said earlier investigation showed the company did not have any legal licence to operate a construction company or to collect deposit from buyers.
“Investigation shows that the 48-year-old woman is the director of the company and is being assisted by the 47-year-old man.
“During the raid on Thursday, police have seized three computer sets, account books, documents and other items police believed being used for their activity,” he said after launching the Royal Malaysia Police special recruitment exercise campaign for Chinese community at Palm Square at Centre Point shopping complex here yesterday.
According to Hamza, the modus operandi of the suspects was to advertise false advertisement in local newspapers about construction projects and sales of bungalow units at bargain prices throughout Sabah.
“Investigation reveals that interested buyers are required to pay a 20 percent deposit of the total price for a unit, while each company agent who managed to ‘close’ a sale would be given 10 percent commission from the deposit paid by the customer,” he said.
Hamza added that police investigation showed that 76 people had paid for the deposit with losses amounting to RM1.56 million without any sales or purchase agreement being made or handing-over of house key to them as promised.
As of yesterday, 17 police reports had been lodged by victims from four districts, namely Penampang, Kudat, Kota Belud and Ranau, Hamza said and added that both suspects had been remanded to facilitate police investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code.