Businessman loses RM490,000 to ‘Datuk’ over land purchase

KUANTAN: A 50-year-old businessman was duped by a man with a “Datuk” title into parting with RM490,000 on the pretext of helping him to acquire land in Sungai Buah Beras, Rompin, for a shrimp farming project.

Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the victim was asked to sign a declaration letter on Oct 20, 2013 after he was showed an application letter for the farming project on government land.

“The victim was asked to pay RM300,000, which would be refunded if his application failed. Between 2014 and 2015, the victim was told that the land had been given to someone else,” he said here yesterday.

Mohd Wazir said the suspect later promised him to get another land in Mukim Penor here, and asked him put an additional payment of RM190,000 into a bank account belonging to the son of the suspect.

The victim lodged a police report yesterday after he could not contact the suspect.

In a separate case, Mohd Wazir said a housewife was cheated of RM8,000 by a man

The victim was asked to pay rm300,000, which would be refunded if his application failed. Supt Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof

she knew from Facebook earlier this month.

On Aug 17, the 54-year-old woman received a copy of a receipt of a cash prize which would be delivered to her.

“Three days later, the victim received a call claiming to be from a courier company asking for a payment of RM2,000 as service charge.

“The woman was then asked to make an additional payment of RM6,000 as a fine for the delivery of the cash which can be regarded as smuggling,” he said, adding that the woman lodged a report here yesterday. — Bernama