COMPANY DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTANT LOSE ALMOST RM90,000 TO TENDER SCAM

KUALA TERENGGANU, March 15 (Bernama) -- A company director and an accountant lost a total of RM86,700 after falling victim to syndicates offering fake government tenders.

Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the two male victims were initially contacted by phone with fraudulent offers of non-existent government projects.

The first victim, a 55-year-old company director, lost RM72,300 after making two payments for the supposed supply of a power station to the Besut Social Welfare Department (JKM) on March 11.

“Meanwhile, the second victim was tricked into supplying 80 boxes of dates for a breaking-of-fast event scheduled for tomorrow. He transferred RM14,400 to the syndicate’s designated bank account, also on March 11,” Azli said in a statement today.

However, both victims later grew suspicious and verified the offers with the relevant departments, only to discover that no such tenders existed.

Both victims lodged a police report at a nearby station yesterday, and the case is now being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, a hotel manager lost RM60,000 after being deceived by an acquaintance involved in land sales.

Azli said that on Oct 17, last year, the 66-year-old victim handed over 10 land titles to a friend, known as Aimi, for mortgage purposes over a three-month period.

“As per the agreement, the victim, who is from Selangor, was supposed to receive a payment of RM250,000 for the 10 mortgaged plots.

“However, he is dissatisfied as he has only received RM30,000 to date,” Azli said.

“The victim, upon verifying with the Besut Land Office, was shocked to discover that two of his land lots, valued at RM60,000, had been transferred to a third party without his knowledge or consent.

He added that the victim had attempted to contact the 57-year-old suspect but was unsuccessful, prompting him to lodge a police report at the Kuala Terengganu district police headquarters (IPD) yesterday on suspicion of breach of trust.

Azli said the case is being investigated under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.

-- BERNAMA