Police: Foreigners held in hypnosis scam may be part of syndicate

New Straits Times

21 hours ago

KEPALA BATAS: Police are investigating whether the five Iranians detained on Saturday over a hypnosis scam targeting foreign tourists at popular city locations are also linked to similar cases in other states.
Acting state police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said police believe the suspects may be part of a syndicate specialising in theft.
"Based on their modus operandi and movements, we believe they could be part of a syndicate that specialises in stealing money.
"However, further investigation is underway to determine whether they are involved in similar cases in other states," he told reporters here today.
He was speaking at a brief ceremony to dispose of drugs seized by the state police between 2010 and last year, worth about RM2 million.
Alwi said initial investigations showed that the five entered Penang on July 27, and that police are working with the Immigration Department to determine their date of entry into Malaysia.
"They had been staying at a homestay in Batu Ferringhi up until their arrests," he added.
For now, Alwi said the number of identified victims remains at three
"There could be more victims who have yet to come forward to lodge reports," he said.
When asked whether the five are family members, Alwi said investigations are still ongoing.
He added that police would also liaise with the Iranian Embassy to obtain further information about the suspects.
It was reported that five Iranians, including a married couple, had been remanded for four days to assist in investigations into a hypnosis scam allegedly targeting foreign tourists.
The suspects were arrested during Op Tourist, an operation launched following three separate police reports lodged between July 30 and Aug 1 involving thefts from international tourists in Pulau Tikus and Jalan Penang.
The victims, tourists from Taiwan, the Netherlands and Syria, aged between 29 and 52, said they were approached by individuals posing as fellow tourists or friendly locals who engaged them in casual conversation.
During the interaction, the suspects allegedly persuaded the victims to show the cash they were carrying, before discreetly making off with the money.