SIBU: Federal police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani today (Sept 24) confirmed a lawyer in Sibu had been cheated of RM604,000 to receive his Datukship title, a title typically conferred on a recipient for free.

When contacted by The Borneo Post, Acryl Sani, who is also a former Sarawak Commissioner of Police, confirmed that the 63-year-old lawyer had lodged a police report, and this had led to the arrest of eight persons aged between 30 and 40 this week in Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, Selangor and Perak.

With that, he believed the police had crippled the syndicate, saying they were now probing the case for cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

“We hope to get the mastermind charged in court. We hope also that members of the public will be wary when approached by anyone with proposals involving money transaction. Always check and double-check the authenticity of the person or agency they represent when being approached with such a proposal.”

Acryl Sani said the lawyer had obtained his Datukship title on June 4 this year; he was conferred the Panglima Jasa Negara award at the Istana Negara.

He said the lawyer lodged the report on September 7, and the police immediately sprang into action.

“The lawyer claimed he was approached by a 36-year-old woman, who introduced herself as the assistant to the Raja Permaisuri Agong at Istana Negara on Nov 11.”

He said the lawyer and the woman had met on several occasions.

“The lawyer was asked to donate RM604,000 to a foundation associated with the Queen as a condition to obtain the Datukship.”

He said the lawyer agreed to it and was told to deposit the money into the suspect’s personal bank account.

He said the lawyer did so in two transactions.

He said the lawyer then found there was no payment required for him to receive his Datukship title.

Following the arrest of the eight, Acryl Sani said the police had also seized several items belonging to the suspects, including an MPV, RM1,139 in cash, jewellery and three handphones.

He said the eight were remanded yesterday (Sept 23) until Monday.

Acryl Sani further advised: “Always check telephone numbers with the agency’s credible website (when being approached with a proposal of a Datukship title). Any claim purporting investment with big returns or promises of obtaining land, title, etc, with ease are always laced with deceit.

“Never fall easily to sweet talk. And most importantly, government agencies will never ask or receive payment be it for services rendered, fees, penalties, etc, by means of crediting money into personal account and after office hours.”