Thursday, Nov 08, 2012
BATU GAJAH, Malaysia - The public has been warned to be wary of individuals impersonating as "policemen" who coax them to part with their money to release arrested family members. The advice from police came after a 42-year-old housewife from Taman Kinta Baru, Gopeng, near here, lodged a report claiming that she had parted with RM5,000 to secure the release of her son.
The victim, T. Sunthari, was at the court here on Sept 20 when she was informed by a "policeman", who escorted her son, Wong Boon Lim, 17, that an inspector wanted to talk to her husband. She gave her husband's handphone number to the man.
Later, Sunthari received a call from the same man, who asked her to pay RM5,000 (S$2,000) to secure her son's release.
The cash was deposited into a bank account in Pusing, near here.
Sunthari lodged a report a few days later when she realised that she had been conned.
Batu Gajah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif advised the public to enquire at police stations or with investigating officers on the status of their family members who had been arrested.
"They should not entertain such calls, especially from those asking for money."
He said in Sunthari's case, she had deposited the money into the bank account on the same day, only to find that her teenage son, who was arrested to facilitate investigations into a robbery in Kampar, was brought to court to be remanded and not to be released.
