'Datuk Wira' allegedly scams victims out of nearly RM1bil through fake investments

PETALING JAYA: A “Datuk Wira” businessman is accused of cheating hundreds of local and foreign individuals out of RM900 million through fake investments. Shah Abdul Malek, a spokesperson for the victims’ secretariat, stated that the victims come from diverse backgrounds, including government officials, doctors, and the general public, and all were duped by the businessman’s false promises. Shah claimed that the individual, utilizing his power and influence, has been deceiving victims for 16 years. He added, “The purpose of the secretariat is to prevent more people from falling prey to this scam and to find a way to recover our money.”

Shah established that he and other victims have collected information about the modus operandi and operations of the businessman, who is suspected of defrauding authorities and victims through 18 imaginary companies. One of the victims, 51-year-old Lee Roger Meiklejohn from Scotland, revealed that he lost almost RM60 million. “Initially, I received a 10% return but in 2017, when he sent me bank statements, I found out that he had withdrawn all the money and pocketed it,” he disclosed.

Lee said he filed two police reports, one at Travers police station in 2019, and another at the Petaling Jaya police station on Monday (Nov 6). When the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf was questioned by Bernama, he confirmed that his department had received reports on the fraudulent investments and ensured that the matter would be investigated.