Dozens more Chinese arrested in Malaysia’s Ipoh for online scam

Police confiscated 80 mobile phones, 31 personal computers, seven internet routers, several credit cards, cash in various currencies and one passport

There were 40 suspects detained, between 18 and 54 years of age. They had been living in a rented house for the past two weeks

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Arrested Chinese suspects after the bust in Ipoh. Photo: Immigration Department of Malaysia

Published: 1:58pm, 11 Dec 2019Updated: 3:11pm, 11 Dec 2019

Nearly three weeks after the massive bust in the Malaysian city of Putrajaya of an online scam syndicate believed to be run by Chinese nationals, a similar operation has been smashed in Ipoh, resulting in the arrest of 40 Chinese nationals.

After a four-day surveillance, the Perak Immigration Department raided a double-storey house and arrested the 40 suspects, including two women.

The syndicate was so self-sustaining that no one had been seen coming or going from the house for days. The younger of the two women arrested was believed to have been providing sexual services to the men.

The raid was carried out on December 9 between 4.30pm and 6.30pm at the house located on Dr Ismail.

It was the biggest crackdown for the state involving such immigrants, said state Immigration Department director Kamalludin Ismail. He added that the suspects, between 18 and 54 years of age, had been living in the rented house for the past two weeks.

“During our surveillance, none of them came out of the house and no suspicious-looking people were seen going into the house, except for food delivery workers,” he said. “My officers climbed over the wall, waited for an opportunity for someone to come out to the surrounding area before ambushing them as the bungalow had tight security with an intercom.

“When we entered the house, we saw a majority of them lying down in the living room as well as in the bedrooms while using their mobile phones. We confiscated a total of 80 mobile phones, 31 personal computers, seven internet routers, several credit cards, cash in various currencies, and one passport.”