Kedahan nabbed over property scam

Investors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan were targeted, say police

KOTA KINABALU: Police have arrested a 43-year-old man from Kedah who is believed to be involved in a property investment scam targeting investors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said the alleged scam involved a purported tourism centre project on a 84ha site in Karambunai.

The company that was registered early this year had boasted of repli- cas of world landmarks, including the Petronas Twin Towers, Eiffel Tower, Burj Al Khalifa, Taipei 101 tower and Tokyo tower, at its development.

He said despite not having any approval from the various authorities including City Hall, the Land and Survey Department and Environmental Protection Department, the project had been promoted to unsuspecting buyers and payments had been made.

Ramli said the land in question was a hilly water catchment area and no development was allowed there. He said three owners of the affected land had lodged police reports on Sunday saying that the company had trespassed into their properties.

Ramli said the company held a launching and joint-venture signing ceremony at the Likas Sport Complex on Monday that was attended by more than 2,000 guests, mostly tourists from China. The event was live-streamed. A gala dinner was held at a five-star resort here.

The suspect, who is the project manager, was arrested on Tuesday at the Kapayan police headquarters.

He had previously been arrested for gang robbery and kidnapping.

Ramli said police were tracking down other individuals.

A senior City Hall officer lodged a police report on Tuesday, stating that the company was marketing the project without approval.

Police seized piles of bank payment slips and copies of trading licences under the name of Sky World Holdings, Sky World Global and Sky World City Sdn Bhd.