SARATOK, Oct 30 — A 38-year-old lorry driver has been arrested for allegedly cheating a 64-year-old housewife from Kabong out of RM554,525 by posing as a bomoh or witch doctor, and promising spiritual healing for her ailing son and help with problems involving her land.
Saratok police chief DSP Mathew Manggie said the suspect, from Passai Siong, Sibu Jaya, was arrested at a food court in Sibu Jaya at about 9pm on Wednesday (October 28).
He said the woman first met the suspect at a coffee shop in Sibu Jaya in June last year, accompanied by three friends, to seek help for her son, who was experiencing health problems.
“The suspect promised to treat her son remotely and gave her a bottle of oil to keep in her bag for protection,” said Mathew in a statement.
The woman reportedly noticed an improvement in her son’s condition within a month.
In October last year, the suspect contacted her again and arranged to meet her at the same coffee shop, claiming he wanted to discuss problems involving her land and offering to resolve them through spiritual means.
After the meeting, he allegedly contacted the woman via WhatsApp and asked her to transfer money to purchase items for a miring ritual.
Mathew said the suspect subsequently instructed the woman to transfer money into six different bank accounts, with the total amount reaching RM554,525.
The woman eventually suspected she had been cheated and lodged a police report, prompting an investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Police arrested the suspect on Oct 28 and seized a Realme mobile phone with a Maxis SIM card believed to be linked to the case.
The suspect was detained at the Saratok police station lock-up for further investigation. — The Borneo Post
