Macau scam mastermind nabbed

Police: Suspect’s role was to connect syndicates in Malaysia and China

KUALA LUMPUR: A mastermind of a Macau scam and online gambling ring that connects syndicates in Malaysia and China is among 130 people detained in a raid.

The 31-year-old Chinese national was arrested during the special operation codenamed Ops Dadu Centre held between Oct 15 and 20.

Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed said the man was detained along with six others in Mont Kiara here.

“The suspect is the leader of the syndicate, whose role is to connect the syndicates in Malaysia and China.

“He is also wanted by the Chinese authorities for Macau scam offences,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday.

The suspect, along with five other Chinese nationals and a Malaysian, were detained under Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Crime Act.

“They will be brought to the Prevention of Crime Board on Jan 8 after their 38-day remand ends,” he added.

Comm Huzir said of the total 130 arrested in the operation, 87 of them were remanded for 38 days under Section 4(2)(a) of the Act.

Some of the detainees were still being investigated while 13 people had been released.

Four other men – Goh Leong Yeong, better known as Alvin Goh, Addy Kanna and two police personnel – were detained under the Act for two years.

“They are placed at detention centres in Simpang Renggam, Bentong and Pokok Sena,” he said.

Since Oct 2, the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) had arrested more than 20 people, including eight police officers and personnel, as well as Goh and Addy Kanna.

They were suspected to have carried out money laundering as well as being involved in forex and Macau scams run by a syndicate from China.

On Oct 11, all were released on MACC bail but Addy Kanna and two others were then detained by police while Goh fled the MACC headquarters.

Goh was finally apprehended at a holiday resort in Pahang on Oct 27.