RM7.3 million lost in commercial crime in Sarawak

Losses resulting from commercial crime in the first six months of this year dropped to RM7.3 million compared to RM17.4 million for the same period last year.

The amount was a drop of 57% or about RM10 million.

"According to police analysis, the two main factors which brought down the number of commercial crime cases was the increase in awareness among the public about cheating cases happening around them," Commercial Crime Investigation Department Chief (JSJK) Supt Mohd Firdaus Abdullah said.

"The second factor was the police conducting numerous activities which made the public aware of not becoming involved in cheating cases," he told a press conference on Ops Cantas Khas JSJK, at the Sarawak Contingent Headquarters here today.

Mohd Firdaus said the number of cheating cases dropped with only 152 reported compared to 219 during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Mohd Firdaus said Ops Cantas Khas which was conducted for one month from May 23 until June 23 focused on taking down the advertisements for illegal loans or Ah Long, the illegal sale of VCDs and the scratch-and-win schemes which had elements of fraud.

"To combat the sale of illegal VCDs, police conducted 53 raids throughout the state and seized 5,074 VCDs with a total value of about RM36,000.

"About 61 people, comprising 38 men and 23 women were arrested during the raids," he said.

He said following the arrests, six VCD sellers were brought to court, while further investigations were being conducted on others who were being detained.

"The cases were investigated under Section 6 of the Film Censorship Act 2002 with a fine of not less than RM5,000 and not more than RM30,000 or jail sentence of not more than three years, or both," he said.

On the operation to bring down the advertisements of illegal loans or Ah Long, Mohd Firdaus said 1,051 illegal advertisements and posters were found on lamp posts, shop walls, bus stops and trees and were taken down in the 135 raids conducted.