Police uncover extortion gang

The police have uncovered a gang of thugs which lure unsuspecting entrepreneurs from China to the city before extorting them of large sums of money.

This followed the arrest of a gang member on Wednesday, at a coffehouse in Jalan Pinang here.

The arrest was made possible after a China national reported to police that his employer was confined at a five-star hotel here, pending payment of extortion money.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad said based on the report, the police detained the suspect, in his 40s, while he was waiting for settlement of the money.

"Initial investigations have revealed the gang comprises locals but is masterminded by a China national," he said in a press statement here today.

He said the modus operandi of the gang was to contact unsuspecting businessmen in China, while posing as representatives of companies in Singapore or Malaysia.

In 'negotiations' that followed, the gang members would lure the Chinese businessmen to a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he added.

"Subsequently, the gang would use every trick in the book to claim that the Chinese businessmen owed them money, and begin to extort them.

"We are currently, in the midst of tracking down remnants of the gang," said Zainuddin.

He urged those with information on the case to contact Inspector Mohd Yusri at 013-2093736 or 03-26002222 to facilitate investigations.