{
  "id": 837854,
  "title": "Sabah police bust alleged China-medium ritual scam syndicate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/sabah-police-bust-alleged-china-medium-ritual-scam-syndicate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T04:54:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/126167/sabah-police-bust-alleged-china-medium-ritual-scam-syndicate"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kota Kinabalu police have apprehended 12 individuals, including seven Chinese women, as part of an alleged \"Chinese-medium\" scam syndicate, according to state Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azhar Hamin. The suspects are accused of defrauding victims of approximately RM600,000 through fraudulent fortune-telling, traditional treatment, and rituals designed to expel bad luck. The arrests occurred following raids conducted by the Sabah Commercial Crime Investigation Department, supported by district commercial crime teams, in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau, and Kota Belud over the weekend. The syndicate allegedly approached victims by offering traditional medicine, illness treatments, or rituals purportedly meant to remove bad luck. Victims were then persuaded to surrender cash or jewelry, ostensibly for prayers, incantations, or rituals, with the perpetrators subsequently taking the money or exchanging it for other items placed inside bags. Police investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the syndicate's activities and to identify any additional victims.",
  "summary": "POLICE in Kota Kinabalu police have detained 12 people, including seven women from China, over an alleged “Chinese-medium” scam syndicate believed to have defrauded victims of about RM600,000 through fake fortune-telling, traditional treatment and ri...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Paid to remove bad luck, lost a fortune instead: Police say ritual scam cost Sabah victims RM600,000",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/paid-to-remove-bad-luck-lost-a-fortune-instead-police-say-ritual-scam",
        "published": "2026-08-14T03:16:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}