BAGAN DATUK: Police dismantled a fraud and forgery syndicate that offered fire extinguisher maintenance services, targeting business premises in the state recently.
Acting Perak police chief Deputy Commissioner Zulkafli Sariaat said the syndicate's activities were exposed following the arrests of nine men and one woman, aged 21 to 35, during four raids in Bagan Datuk and Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, between Jan 1 and 5.
Zulkafli said the arrests of the suspects solved at least six cases involving losses totalling RM89,000 reported by victims in the Bagan Datuk and Kampar districts.
He said a report was lodged by a man in Hutan Melintang here at 3.40pm on Dec 31.
"The complainant alleged that two men offered fire extinguisher maintenance services at his premises for RM100 per extinguisher.
"An inspection by the Hutan Melintang Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) on the extinguishers at the premises revealed that the electronic Fire Extinguisher inspection System (eFEiS) stickers on the extinguishers were fake and not recorded in the system.
"Further checks also found that the company was neither appointed nor registered with the Fire and Rescue Department to carry out fire extinguisher maintenance work," he said in a statement today.
Zulkafli added that during the raids, authorities seized 89 fire extinguishers, four mobile phones, seven eFEiS stickers, three cars, and two fake contractor certificates.
"Members of the syndicate arrested are suspected of working as employees tasked with securing clients at business premises.
"They are also believed to have offered fire extinguisher maintenance services, renewed eFEiS stickers, supplied fake eFEiS stickers, and operated the company involved in the business.
"In addition to Perak, the scam syndicate is believed to have operated in Kuala Lumpur and Penang," he said adding that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.