Man nabbed over haj scam involving elderly pilgrims

SEREMBAN: A 67-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a haj package scam involving elderly Malaysian pilgrims who claimed they were confined and forced to walk through dangerous routes in Saudi Arabia.
Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yusoff said the suspect was detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday following several police reports lodged in Mantin.
He has since been remanded for four days to assist in investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Preliminary investigations revealed that victims from Mantin – a husband, wife and their daughter aged between 30 and 60 – suffered losses totalling RM81,000.
"We believe there may be more victims affected by this fraudulent scheme.
"We are also working to determine whether the scam was carried out individually or through an agency," Ahmad Dzaffir told reporters at the Seremban City Council Hall today.
He urged others who may have fallen victim to similar haj scams to come forward and lodge police reports.
Yesterday, federal police Commercial Crime Investigation Department acting director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali confirmed that three reports have been received from the victims' next of kin – two in Mantin and one in Ayer Hitam, Johor.
It was reported that a group of Malaysian pilgrims had been duped by a local agent linked to a prominent religious figure.
One of the victims' daughter claimed her parents and aunt, who travelled to Saudi Arabia on May 9, were forced to trek from Jeddah to Makkah without proper documents, food or water to avoid detection by Saudi authorities.
The group was also allegedly locked in a cramped, dark room and told to pay an additional RM9,000 to retrieve their belongings, despite having already paid RM30,000 for the haj package.
– Bernama

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