KUALA LUMPUR: Seven men and six women have been arrested in connection with a syndicate and cartel operating within a Selangor land office.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said they were involved in illegal land transfers by exploiting the system to erase critical land transfer records.
He said the police opened an investigation paper in early November regarding fraud related to land transfers involving an area in Selangor.
"Based on the police report received, the complainant, who is an assistant district officer, reported several suspicious and unauthorised land transfer transactions.
"The complainant also reported the disappearance of several documents, including land transfer forms, from the vault," he said.
Ramli did not rule out the possibility that there might be more involved.
"Possibly in other states as well.
"Our investigations are also focused toward identifying and arresting the mastermind involved," he said.
The case was classified as fraud under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of ten-year imprisonment, whipping and a fine.