36 Chinese Nationals Denied Bail Over Online Scam in Port Dickson
A Malaysian court has refused bail for 36 Chinese nationals accused of running an online scam operation in Port Dickson, targeting fellow citizens back home with fake investment schemes. The group, consisting of 31 men and five women aged between 22 and 39, was arrested in a raid on 21 August and has since remained in custody.
The suspects were jointly charged at the Magistrate’s Court under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read with Section 120B(2), for conspiracy to commit cheating. If convicted, they face fines, jail terms of up to six months, or both. No plea was recorded during the hearing, as the accused could not understand Bahasa Malaysia. The court has set 12 September for case mention and for securing a Mandarin interpreter.
Authorities said the suspects had been operating from a house in Taman Tanjung, where police seized 94 mobile phones, 36 laptops, and other items worth an estimated RM220,000 (about S$63,000).
Prosecution Opposes Bail, Cites Flight Risk
During the hearing, prosecutors strongly objected to granting bail, warning that all 36 accused posed a flight risk. Checks with the Immigration Department revealed that most of their travel passes had either expired or were invalid.
The deputy public prosecutor also revealed that the Chinese Embassy had revoked the suspects’ travel documents due to related offences in their home country. Furthermore, the group failed to provide any evidence of local employment, residential address, or relatives in Malaysia.
Magistrate Mohd Farez Rahman ruled that bail could only be considered if the accused had valid travel documents, a local address, and two Malaysian sureties. Since none of these conditions were met, the court denied bail.
Crackdown on Cross-Border Fraud Syndicates
The case underscores Malaysia’s continuing efforts to crack down on cross-border syndicates that use the country as a base for online scams. Authorities have stepped up raids in recent years, as syndicates often exploit foreign nationals to operate call centres targeting victims abroad.
For Singaporeans, this case is a reminder of the growing complexity of cybercrime networks in the region, particularly scams promising high-yield investments. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the police have repeatedly warned the public about such fraudulent schemes, which remain a top financial crime risk across Southeast Asia.
Image Source: The Star