Twenty Chinese nationals have been remanded for four days to assist police investigations into a suspected love scam syndicate believed to have targeted victims in China.
The remand order was issued by Magistrate Nurhanisah S. H. Sahul Hamid and will run until Thursday, allowing investigators additional time to probe the alleged online fraud operation.
All 20 suspects, aged between 19 and 41, were represented by lawyer Cheah Eng Soon during the proceedings.
The suspects were detained following a police raid on a three-storey house in Solok Sungai Emas, Batu Feringghi, at about 7.05pm on Sunday.
Police believe the group was involved in a love scam operation that used the Telegram messaging application to communicate with and allegedly defraud victims in China.
More than 100 mobile phones of various brands were seized during the raid, along with three laptops, several notebooks and other equipment believed to have been used in the syndicate’s activities.
Investigators are also checking the immigration status of the suspects, with some believed to be without valid travel documents.
The seized electronic devices are expected to form an important part of the investigation as police work to establish how the alleged operation was conducted and identify the full network involved.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rozak Muhammad is expected to issue a statement on the case, including further details on the investigation and the suspects’ alleged roles.
Police are continuing their probe to determine the syndicate’s modus operandi, the number of victims involved and the extent of any financial losses.
