MIRI, June 2 — A 29-year-old woman is under investigation after allegedly lodging a false police report claiming she had been robbed by four armed men in Pujut last week.
Miri district police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said in a statement on Tuesday that the woman filed the report at 1.58am on May 28, alleging she was robbed while alone near Miri Gospel Church at about 10pm on May 27.
“In her report, she claimed that four men travelling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle had confronted her after she stopped her vehicle by the roadside. She further alleged that one of the suspects pointed a pistol at her before making off with a gold necklace, a gold ring, a gold bracelet and RM350 in cash,” he said.
He said the alleged robbery resulted in estimated losses of RM3,130 and prompted police to open an investigation under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for armed gang robbery.
However, he added, a comprehensive investigation by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Miri District Police Headquarters uncovered multiple inconsistencies in the complainant’s account.
“Further investigation and inquiries eventually revealed that the robbery had never taken place.
“Evidence obtained during the investigation led the complainant to admit that the report she lodged was false,” he said, adding that police discovered all jewellery and cash she had claimed were stolen were in fact still in her possession.
Following the discovery, the investigation officer lodged a separate report against the woman for intentionally providing false information to a public servant.
She is now being investigated under Section 182 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
Mohd Farhan reminded the public not to lodge false police reports for personal gain or self-interest, stressing that such acts are serious offences that waste police resources and hinder criminal investigations. — The Borneo Post
