IPOH: The Perak Immigration Department arrested 65 Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in an online scam here, on Thursday.
Its director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the suspects, aged between 17 and 55, were caught by surprise when a raiding party stormed two three-storey houses at Gerbang Maju Rapat at 3.30pm.
“Everyone was then carrying out online activities, and as soon as they realised the presence of Immigration officers, they tried to run away, causing scuffles. Some of them tried to act aggressively, but we managed to control the situation and prevent them from escaping.
“All of them are believed to have been carrying out the online activities since last week,” he said at a press conference at the Perak Immigration Department office, here.
In the raid, Immigration officers seized various equipment, including 232 mobile phones, 45 laptops, 26 computer monitors, a card credit swipe machine, 140 bank cards and 47 Chinese identity cards.
Khairul Dzaimee said the suspects, who include four women, have been detained for investigation for not having valid travel documents and abusing social visit or work passes.
The arrests bring the number of Chinese nationals arrested in Malaysia on suspicion of involvement in online scams since Nov 20 to 941.
In addition to the Ipoh arrests, 680 were nabbed in Cyberjaya on Nov 20, 104 were detained in Sabah on Nov 26, and 52 were held in Sarawak on Nov 29. – Bernama