By JAMES LEONG
SANDAKAN: The district police here reported 54 online scam cases between January and April this year, resulting in losses exceeding RM4.3 million.
According to OCPD ACP Ahsmon Bajah, the total losses from these cases amounted to RM4,307,227.07, with victims spanning various demographics, including professionals, business owners, and retirees.
In a statement released yesterday, Ahsmon revealed that Sandakan recorded 170 online scam cases throughout 2024, with cumulative losses soaring to RM23,062,232.60. The majority of victims (61.11%) were males aged 31 to 50, while females accounted for 38.89% of cases.
“We take these incidents seriously and urge the public to exercise extreme caution with their bank account details. Never share sensitive information with third parties,” Ahsmon emphasized.
He also warned that individuals allowing their bank accounts to be used as “mule accounts” could face prosecution under Section 424 of the Penal Code, which carries penalties of a RM10,000 to RM100,000 fine, or one to seven years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.
Authorities reiterated the importance of vigilance amid rising cybercrime trends and encouraged victims to report scams promptly to curb further financial exploitation.
Meanwhile, a suspect allegedly involved in the bribery case linked to the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Housing Project was released on bail here on April 30.
The suspect, a Community Development Officer (CDO) of a state constituency here, aged in his 50s, was granted bail at RM20,000 with a RM5,000 deposit and one local surety.
“The suspect is required to report monthly to any MACC office in the state pending further investigations,” State Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director Datuk Karunanithy Y. Subbiah said on May 2.
The suspect was alleged to have received bribes totalling RM40,000 between 2022 and 2025 in exchange for awarding housing construction projects to specific contractors and individuals.
The suspect was arrested at 2.00 pm on April 24 while providing a statement at the MACC Sandakan office.
On April 25, Karunanithy disclosed the case was being probed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, which criminalises the solicitation or receipt of bribes.
