SIBU: A noodle seller here lost her life savings of RM231,792 to three suspects claiming to be shamans who had "foreseen" her untimely death.
According to Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad, the suspects told the 65-year-old victim that they were capable of ridding her of misfortune.
"On June 23, the woman was approached by three women who claimed to possess fortune-telling expertise and foresaw that the victim would meet with a fatal accident," he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 28).
He said one of the suspects is believed to be of Chinese nationality along with two locals.
The trio convinced the victim to pay them for a prayer session to prevent her from meeting her unfortunate fate.
"In fear of what could happen, the victim withdrew a total of RM231,792 from her two bank accounts. "The suspects instructed her to place all the money into a blue bag.
"She was asked to pray and hand over the bag to one of the suspects," said Datuk Mohd Ahmad.
He said after the ritual was completed, the victim was told to return home with the bag but was told she could only open the bag in a month's time.
However, he said the victim opened the bag the next day on June 24 and found her money missing and realised she had been deceived.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
