Cops nab ‘casanova’ who duped 19 women

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Shahrul Othman (second left) and officers showing the jewellery recovered from the suspect during the press conference. — Bernama photo

Shahrul Othman (second left) and officers showing the jewellery recovered from the suspect during the press conference. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Luck ran out for a slick Casanova who duped 19 women he had befriended via social networking site Facebook over the last two years when the long arms of the law caught up with him.

The 34-year-old suspect was arrested at his house in Taman Cahaya Alam, Shah Alam, at 8am on June 30 and police seized several items such as jewellery and mobile phones, believed to belong to his victims.

It is learned that the Casanova used several pseudonyms as a modus operandi during the duration of his acquaintance with the victims, allegedly making sweet promises to marry them prior to cheating and fleeing with their money, jewellery and mobile phones.

Brickfields district police chief ACP Sharul Othman Mansor said the suspect who is married and has two children, targeted career women in the age group of 28 to 38, as his victims.

“After befriending his victims via Facebook for two to three weeks, he will invite the women to meet him in hotels around Brickfields.

“He will then persuade the women to withdraw money from their savings, claiming the money was for ‘dowry’… then his victims to meet his ‘family’ as part of plans to get married,” Sharol told reporters at the Brickfields police headquarters, here yesterday.

The suspect would also ask the victims to leave their personal belongings in the car and after deceiving them, would flee with the cash and belongings of his victims, he added.

Sharol said the loss suffered by victims amounted to RM150,000 and goods seized by police was estimated at RM70,000.

Police have received 19 reports from victims, allegedly duped by the suspect since March 2013.

“So far 10 victims have managed to identify the suspect and their belongings. We will be calling the remaining victims to come forward to assist investigations and identify their belongings,” he said.

The suspect would be remanded until Monday to facilitate investigations. — Bernama