13 Japanese among suspects detained in Malaysia over alleged scam
Police in Malaysia say nearly 20 people, including 13 Japanese, were detained over a suspected scam operation that apparently targeted Japan.
The police announced that investigators detained 19 foreign nationals when they searched two locations believed to be the bases of a group of fraudsters in and around the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on May 13.
The 13 Japanese are alleged to have made phone calls or sent texts to people in Japan, and had them transfer money to designated accounts by pretending to be police officers in Osaka and through other means.
Investigators seized what appeared to be plots written in Japanese and clothes resembling police uniforms in Japan, as well as smartphones and personal computers.
Malaysian police say six of the 13 Japanese were indicted and later released after paying penalties.
In Southeast Asia, a series of telephone and other fraud cases involving Japanese nationals have been uncovered this year. Japanese and many other foreigners were found to have been engaged in scam operations in Myanmar. In Cambodia, over 20 Japanese were taken into custody late last month at an apparent fraud scheme hub.
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