Police bust online sextortion syndicate, teenager among nine arrested

New Straits Times

21 hours ago

JOHOR BARU: Police have smashed a syndicate involved in online sex scams and extortion following the arrest of nine individuals, including two women and a teenager, in a series of raids under Op Bugil.
The suspects, aged between 17 and 50, were detained during operations conducted from June 20 to July 1 in Johor Baru and Kulai area.
Johor police chief Datuk M Kumar said the group, believed to be active since November last year, created fake social media accounts and used a female member to lure victims into explicit video calls.
"The syndicate would send a link to the victim's phone. Once clicked, it allowed the syndicate access to the victim's contact list and photo gallery.
"During the call, the victim would be coaxed into performing indecent acts, which were secretly recorded. The footage was then used to extort money from them."
"Victims were usually blackmailed for between RM500 and RM1,000 per video call. If they refused, the syndicate would threaten to send the recording they had taken during the inappropriate video call to all those on the phone contact list, including family members."
He said the syndicate also recruited local teenagers who had dropped out of school, offering salaries of between RM2,200 and RM4,000 a month.
"These youths were trained before being sent abroad to countries such as Indonesia, Laos and Thailand."
Kumar said during the raids, police also rescued three victims, including two teenagers aged 15 and 16.
"These teens were forced to work long hours, up to 12 hours a day. They were confined, and any non-cooperative staff would be subjected to beatings.
"Although some were given short breaks, their movements were monitored. Their phones and identity cards were kept by the syndicate and in case any of them wanted to leave, they were asked to pay RM30,000 to the syndicate."
Items seized during the raids included 27 mobile phones, identification documents, flight tickets, currency exchange receipts, RM140 in cash, foreign currencies, laptops, 49 SIM cards, modems, employment books, a car and a remote-control device.
The case is being investigated under Sections 5, 10 and 15(f) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017; Sections 12 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007; Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990; Section 12 (1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966; Section 324 of the Penal Code and Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.