LABUAN — Police have dismantled an online scam operation following a raid on a house believed to be used as a call centre in Labuan, leading to the arrest of 13 Chinese nationals.
Labuan district police chief Supt Mohd Hamizi Halim said the operation was carried out by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) in collaboration with the Malaysian Immigration Department at about 12.45 am on Feb 28.
He said the raid was conducted at a two-storey house in Jalan Pulau Buah following public complaints about suspicious activities at the premises.
“Initial investigations found that the premises were being used as a call centre for online scam activities,” he said at a press conference held at the Labuan District Police Headquarters today.
According to Mohd Hamizi, those arrested comprised 12 men and one woman aged between 26 and 47.
Police checks revealed that the suspects had entered Malaysia using social visit passes, while four of them did not possess valid travel documents.
During the raid, authorities also seized 21 computer sets and 83 mobile phones believed to have been used for the scam operation.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 and Section 120B of the Penal Code for cheating and criminal conspiracy.
Mohd Hamizi said the suspects were remanded until March 6 to facilitate investigations, and the investigation paper has been referred to the Sabah State Prosecution Office for further action.
He added that four men were charged under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing valid travel documents, while two men and one woman were charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying.
The remaining six men were handed over to the Labuan Immigration Department for further action.
“All suspects were charged at the Labuan Magistrate’s Court at about 9 am today,” he said.
Mohd Hamizi stressed that police will continue to take strict action against individuals or syndicates involved in online fraud activities, and urged the public to cooperate with authorities by providing information to curb commercial and cybercrime.
