Homemaker pays hefty price for ‘miracle’ cure

IPOH: She was promised a miracle cure for her supposed “chronic disease” in return for a hefty fee.

But what this 65-year-old homemaker got in the end was just a black plastic bag containing fruits and juices, and worse, a financial loss of around RM855,000.

Believing it to be the work of two shamans, she lodged a report at the Menglembu police station here on Tuesday.

Confirming the report, Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Ali Tamby said the victim was at the Menglembu market at around 10am on Nov 28, when she overheard the conversation of two Chinese nationals talking about a herbal tree that could “cure any diseases”.

“On hearing this, the victim was interested in finding out more about this tree, so she followed the two Chinese women into a silver-coloured car.

“She was told by these women that she had a chronic disease and should be treated immediately before it spread to her family members.

“But as a condition, the victim had to hand over all her valuable possessions for the cure,” he said.

ACP Mohd Ali said the victim was sent home and was given a number to contact when she had gathered all her valuables.

“The victim then waited for the suspects in front of a school, where she handed over foreign currencies amounting to RM195,000, two watches worth RM60,000 and jewellery worth RM600,000,” he said.

The woman was given a black plastic bag in return and told to only open it after one month.

“On Tuesday, she had a bad feeling about it and opened the bag, only to find that she had been cheated,” he said.

ACP Mohd Ali said no one saw the handover, and the victim could not remember the type of car and number plate used by the suspects.

“She could only remember that they were Chinese nationals,” he said, adding that police are currently investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

She was told by these women that she had a chronic disease and should be treated immediately before it spread to her family members.

ACP Mohd Ali Tamby