KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman is investigating a Malaysian man detained in Thailand for allegedly heading a major investment scam syndicate, says Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
The Inspector-General of Police stated that the suspect is believed to have led a syndicate promoting two bogus investment schemes.
"A total of 26 police reports have been lodged over the investment scams, resulting in about RM8.5mil in losses.
"We are conducting the investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001," he said in a statement on Friday (Dec 20).
So far, several suspects have been detained and prosecuted, he added.
"We are hard at work investigating the two bogus investment schemes as well as connections to Malaysians.
"We advise the public to be careful before joining investment schemes that promise high returns in a short time," the IGP said.
It was reported that Thai police believe they have cracked down on a major scam syndicate that laundered over five billion baht (US$145,754,000) through fraudulent transactions, following the arrests of a Malaysian ringleader and his Thai wife.
The Commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Pol. Maj. Gen. Puttidej Bunkrapue, stated that the two are key suspects involved in a large-scale money-laundering scheme.
He said the 38-year-old Malaysian man, wanted under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court, was detained at the Sadao Immigration Checkpoint in Songkhla province as he entered Thailand on Dec 16, and his Thai wife, also implicated in the scheme, was arrested at a different location on Dec 18.
"Both suspects face charges of collusion in money laundering," Puttidej said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 19).
