Latest news with #OpBugil
![News@9: Today's top headlines - July 14, 2025 [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2F15ntkehakiman_1752498008.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![News@9: Today's top headlines - July 14, 2025 [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
News@9: Today's top headlines - July 14, 2025 [WATCH]
Here are tonight's top stories: Lawyers march to PM's Office Bar Council president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab says the march is a united stand to defend judicial independence and push for systemic reforms. Sextortion syndicate busted Police arrested nine suspects — including two women and a teen — in raids targeting an online sex scam network under Op Bugil. Foreigners denied entry Immigration officers at KLIA stopped 131 travellers last Friday for failing to meet entry rules, including lack of funds and dubious bookings. Man escapes croc attack A man survived a crocodile ambush by poking the reptile in the eye during a struggle in Loagan Tebabui lake, Miri, Sarawak. That's all for News@9.
Sinar Daily
14-07-2025
- Sinar Daily
Sexual blackmail syndicate busted, victims tortured and forced to eat chillies
Police rescued two teenage victims, a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl, who had endured physical abuse, sexual exploitation and psychological torment at the hands of the syndicate. M Kumar (left) presenting a flow chart detailing the operations of a sexual extortion syndicate during a press conference on the success of recent drug seizures and criminal crackdowns under Op Bugil at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters today. Photo by Bernama JOHOR BAHRU – Police have dismantled a criminal syndicate involved in sexual blackmail and online fraud following a series of raids across Kulai and Johor Bahru between June 20 and July 1. Johor police chief Datuk M Kumar said that nine local comprising seven men and two women aged 17 to 59 were arrested in joint operations led by Johor's D7 Division alongside criminal investigation units from Kulai and South Johor Bahru districts. Police rescued two teenage victims, a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl, who had endured physical abuse, sexual exploitation and psychological torment at the hands of the syndicate. 'Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate began operating actively in Nov 2024, using a modus operandi that involved posing as attractive women through fake social media accounts to lure victims into performing sexually explicit video calls. 'At the same time, the syndicate would send phishing links to hack into the victims' mobile phones, then use the recordings of the explicit calls to blackmail them, demanding money in stages. 'Overwhelmed by emotional distress and fear, the victims eventually transferred funds into the syndicate's accounts as instructed,' he said during a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters on Monday. M Kumar (centre) during a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters on Monday. Photo by Bernama During the operation, police confiscated a range of items, including 27 mobile phones of various brands, identity documents, flight tickets, currency exchange receipts, and cash in multiple denominations, RM140, 1,822 yuan, and 4,370 baht. Authorities also seized a laptop, 49 SIM cards, a modem, job record books and a vehicle. Police investigations uncovered that the criminal network maintained active connections in both Laos and Thailand while systematically recruiting local workers, including minors to serve as scammers. 'The syndicate lured potential recruits with false promises of monthly salaries ranging between RM2,200 to RM4,000, while also offering deceptive overseas employment opportunities boasting earnings of up to USD$2,500 (approximately RM10,637). 'The two rescued teenage victims endured horrific abuse including physical beatings, forced nudity, sexual violence, and being compelled to eat chillies as punishment. 'The victims, both school dropouts, faced additional extortion attempts, with syndicate members demanding RM30,000 as a purported "release fee" to terminate their forced employment,' he said. The case is being investigated under Sections 5, 10, and 15(f) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, as well as Sections 12 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. The suspects also face charges under Section 324 of the Penal Code, Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amendment 2007), and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- The Sun
Johor police rescue teens from online sex scam syndicate
JOHOR BAHRU: Police rescued a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl who were allegedly sexually abused and forced into an online sex fraud and extortion syndicate. The operation, named Op Bugil, was conducted in Johor Bahru and Kulai between June 20 and July 1. Johor Police Chief Datuk M. Kumar confirmed another victim, a 26-year-old man, was also rescued. Nine suspects, including two women, were arrested in connection with the case. Investigations revealed the syndicate had been active since November last year, recruiting locals—including minors—as scammers with monthly salaries ranging from RM2,200 to RM4,000. Some were promised overseas jobs in countries like Laos with higher pay of around USD2,500. Kumar stated that the victims were coerced into online sex scams, with fake social media accounts created for extortion. 'They were locked up, forced to eat chilli, sexually abused, and stripped naked. These acts were recorded for blackmail,' he said during a press conference. Victims were reportedly forced to work 12-hour shifts with only one day off every two weeks. They were confined to their workplace, with their identity cards and mobile phones confiscated. The syndicate's modus operandi involved using women to lure victims into obscene video calls on social media. Once victims clicked on a provided link, their phones were hacked, granting the syndicate access to contacts and photos. Victims were then blackmailed with threats of releasing compromising videos unless they paid. Authorities seized 27 mobile phones, personal documents, plane tickets, currency receipts, cash, a laptop, 49 SIM cards, employment records, and vehicles during the operation. Investigations are ongoing. - Bernama
Barnama
14-07-2025
- Barnama
Teen Victims Rescued From Online Sex Scam Syndicate In Johor
JOHOR BAHRU, July 14 (Bernama) -- Police rescued a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl believed to have been sexually abused and forced to work as members of an online sex fraud and extortion syndicate through an operation dubbed Op Bugil carried out here and in Kulai from June 20 to July 1. Johor Police Chief Datuk M. Kumar said another victim, a 26-year-old man, was also rescued. He said nine suspects, two of whom were women, were arrested. According to Kumar, investigations found that the syndicate had been operating since November last year, recruiting locals, including minors, as scammers with salaries ranging from RM2,200 to RM4,000 per month. He said the syndicate also offers them to work abroad, including in Laos, with a more lucrative salary of around USD2,500. 'The victims were recruited for an online sex fraud with the syndicate creating fake social media accounts for extortion purposes. They were locked up, forced to eat chilli and sexually abused, including being stripped naked, and all these actions were recorded for the purpose of extortion,' he told a press conference here today. Kumar said the victims were forced to work 12 hours a day with only one day off after two weeks, and had to sleep at work and were prohibited from leaving except on designated holidays, while their identity cards and mobile phones were taken from them. Meanwhile, Kumar said the syndicate carried out their fraudulent activities by using women to lure the victim to make obscene video calls on social media and then hacked the victim's mobile phone after clicking on the link provided. 'This syndicate would send a link to the victim's mobile phone, and when the victim clicked on it, the syndicate could access the contact list and photo gallery on the mobile phone. The syndicate then threatened to distribute pornographic video recordings of the victim if the victim refused to pay them,' he said.
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Police bust online sextortion syndicate, teenager among nine arrested
JOHOR BARU: Police have smashed a syndicate involved in online sex scams and extortion following the arrest of nine individuals, including two women and a teenager, in a series of raids under Op Bugil. The suspects, aged between 17 and 50, were detained during operations conducted from June 20 to July 1 in Johor Baru and Kulai area. Johor police chief Datuk M Kumar said the group, believed to be active since November last year, created fake social media accounts and used a female member to lure victims into explicit video calls. "The syndicate would send a link to the victim's phone. Once clicked, it allowed the syndicate access to the victim's contact list and photo gallery. "During the call, the victim would be coaxed into performing indecent acts, which were secretly recorded. The footage was then used to extort money from them." "Victims were usually blackmailed for between RM500 and RM1,000 per video call. If they refused, the syndicate would threaten to send the recording they had taken during the inappropriate video call to all those on the phone contact list, including family members." He said the syndicate also recruited local teenagers who had dropped out of school, offering salaries of between RM2,200 and RM4,000 a month. "These youths were trained before being sent abroad to countries such as Indonesia, Laos and Thailand." Kumar said during the raids, police also rescued three victims, including two teenagers aged 15 and 16. "These teens were forced to work long hours, up to 12 hours a day. They were confined, and any non-cooperative staff would be subjected to beatings. "Although some were given short breaks, their movements were monitored. Their phones and identity cards were kept by the syndicate and in case any of them wanted to leave, they were asked to pay RM30,000 to the syndicate." Items seized during the raids included 27 mobile phones, identification documents, flight tickets, currency exchange receipts, RM140 in cash, foreign currencies, laptops, 49 SIM cards, modems, employment books, a car and a remote-control device. The case is being investigated under Sections 5, 10 and 15(f) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017; Sections 12 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007; Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990; Section 12 (1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966; Section 324 of the Penal Code and Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.
