KOTA KINABALU, Sept 30 — Police are seeking a 29-year-old man believed to be the organiser of the Borneo Mud Challenge race that failed to take place last Saturday despite fees collected from participants both local and international.
Kota Kinabalu police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Chandra said police are looking for a Jonathan John Jipil, from Kampung Potoki, Lok Kawi, Penampang, who became uncontactable after the event fell through.
“We are also looking for his girlfriend, 22-year-old Ng Chee Hui, as a witness in the case, (and) whose bank account was used to receive payments from participants of the race,” said Chandra, adding that Ng had previously lodged a police report denying any knowledge of fraudulent activities.
Hundreds of participants who signed up for the run scheduled for September 27 at an undetermined venue have claimed they were defrauded of between RM80 to RM140 in entry fees.
Chandra said a background check into the organising company, Eco Extreme Borneo, saw that Jipil was not listed as one of the directors although some participants claimed to have had personal interactions with Jipil as the organiser.
A total of 29 police reports have been lodged at various districts as of today, involving some 153 people and RM20,267 in paid fees, with others, including international visitors, who have yet to make reports.
“This event is sensitive as it involves international participants and was highlighted in local papers. It paints a very bad image of Sabah,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The issue came to light when participants became suspicious in the months leading up to the event after details of the event continued to remain vague.
The event’s Facebook page was bombarded with queries and vitriol demanding updates and confirmation of the venue, schedule and refunds.
The event page was later deactivated and a third party ticketing website — Ticketbud — stated the event is over a week before September 27.
Participants claimed organiser has been uncontactable, while a check with local authorities found no venues booked, no permits applied for and the organiser’s office was an accounting firm.
The race was meant to be a 10-kilometre run with 25 medium-to-high level obstacle courses, modelled after the Viper Challenge in Sepang with prizes up to RM15,000.
