Bukit Aman team going to Pakistan over 130 detained M’sians

The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) of Bukit Aman plans to dispatch a team to Pakistan to investigate the detention of 130 Malaysians in Rawalpindi last month. According to CCID director Rusdi Isa, the team will conduct meetings with Pakistani authorities, record statements, and analyze devices seized during a prior raid on an alleged cyber scam center.

The primary objective is to uncover the modus operandi of the syndicate, including their use of Malaysian police uniforms to deceive victims. Rusdi revealed that the team will gather information about the individuals who brought the Malaysians to Pakistan.

He emphasized that the identities of the detainees were verified through cooperation between Malaysian police, embassies, and Interpol. Of the 130 Malaysians detained, 107 had overstayed their visas, while 20 had valid visas, 2 had visa extensions, and 1 lacked valid travel documents. The detainees originated from Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Kelantan, with 92 of them having no criminal records in Malaysia.

The remaining 8 were convicted of various offenses, including drugs, fraud, and gambling. Notably, two individuals are currently wanted by Malaysian authorities for fraud cases in Sabah.

Rusdi also noted that the Malaysians were admitted to Pakistan in stages between June 8 and September 29, with the peak arrival on August 3, totaling 53 individuals. The investigation stems from a previous raid by Pakistani authorities on a cyber fraud call center in Rawalpindi, where the syndicate allegedly impersonated bank customer service representatives and police officers to trap victims through false money laundering allegations.