Latest news with #MKumar
Sinar Daily
5 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Sexual blackmail syndicate busted, victims tortured and forced to eat chillies
Police rescued two teenage victims, a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl, who had endured physical abuse, sexual exploitation and psychological torment at the hands of the syndicate. M Kumar (left) presenting a flow chart detailing the operations of a sexual extortion syndicate during a press conference on the success of recent drug seizures and criminal crackdowns under Op Bugil at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters today. Photo by Bernama JOHOR BAHRU – Police have dismantled a criminal syndicate involved in sexual blackmail and online fraud following a series of raids across Kulai and Johor Bahru between June 20 and July 1. Johor police chief Datuk M Kumar said that nine local comprising seven men and two women aged 17 to 59 were arrested in joint operations led by Johor's D7 Division alongside criminal investigation units from Kulai and South Johor Bahru districts. Police rescued two teenage victims, a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl, who had endured physical abuse, sexual exploitation and psychological torment at the hands of the syndicate. 'Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate began operating actively in Nov 2024, using a modus operandi that involved posing as attractive women through fake social media accounts to lure victims into performing sexually explicit video calls. 'At the same time, the syndicate would send phishing links to hack into the victims' mobile phones, then use the recordings of the explicit calls to blackmail them, demanding money in stages. 'Overwhelmed by emotional distress and fear, the victims eventually transferred funds into the syndicate's accounts as instructed,' he said during a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters on Monday. M Kumar (centre) during a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters on Monday. Photo by Bernama During the operation, police confiscated a range of items, including 27 mobile phones of various brands, identity documents, flight tickets, currency exchange receipts, and cash in multiple denominations, RM140, 1,822 yuan, and 4,370 baht. Authorities also seized a laptop, 49 SIM cards, a modem, job record books and a vehicle. Police investigations uncovered that the criminal network maintained active connections in both Laos and Thailand while systematically recruiting local workers, including minors to serve as scammers. 'The syndicate lured potential recruits with false promises of monthly salaries ranging between RM2,200 to RM4,000, while also offering deceptive overseas employment opportunities boasting earnings of up to USD$2,500 (approximately RM10,637). 'The two rescued teenage victims endured horrific abuse including physical beatings, forced nudity, sexual violence, and being compelled to eat chillies as punishment. 'The victims, both school dropouts, faced additional extortion attempts, with syndicate members demanding RM30,000 as a purported "release fee" to terminate their forced employment,' he said. The case is being investigated under Sections 5, 10, and 15(f) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, as well as Sections 12 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. The suspects also face charges under Section 324 of the Penal Code, Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amendment 2007), and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops bust online sextortion syndicate in Johor
Johor police chief M Kumar said the raids saw the seizure of 27 mobile phones, identity cards, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, laptops, 49 SIM cards and a modem, among others. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The police have busted a syndicate that used sexual blackmail tactics to prey on its victims with the arrest of nine suspects, including two women and a teenager. Berita Harian reported that the suspects, aged 17 to 50 years old, were arrested in an operation from June 20 to July 1 around Johor Bahru and Kulai in Johor. Johor police chief M Kumar said the syndicate, which had been operating since last November, had its female members create fake social media accounts to entice its victims into making lewd video calls. He said they would then send the victim a mobile link, which would access the victim's photo gallery and contact list when clicked. 'The syndicate persuaded its victims to commit lewd acts on video calls, which would be recorded and used to blackmail them for money. 'The victims were generally forced to make payments of RM500 to RM1,000, and threatened with the distribution of their lewd videos to their contacts, including their family,' he said. Kumar said the syndicate also recruited non-schooling teenagers on social media as workers, paying them RM2,200 to RM4,000. He said they would be trained before being forced to work in other countries, such as Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand. The raids saw the rescue of three such victims, aged 15 to 16 years old. 'These teenagers would be locked up and forced to work 12 hours a day, and beaten if they refused to cooperate. 'Though they were given two-week breaks, their movements were still controlled and their mobile phones and identity cards confiscated. 'Those looking to quit would have to pay RM30,000 to be set free,' he said. Kumar said the raids saw the seizure of 27 mobile phones, identity cards, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, laptops, 49 SIM cards and a modem, among others. The suspects in custody, including the mastermind, are being investigated under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, as well as the National Registration Regulations 1990, Passport Act 1966, Penal Code and Societies Act 1966.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Police bust online sextortion syndicate, teenager among nine arrested
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.
Daily Express
5 days ago
- Daily Express
Cops bust online sextortion syndicate in Johor
Published on: Monday, July 14, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 14, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Johor police chief M Kumar said the raids saw the seizure of 27 mobile phones, identity cards, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, laptops, 49 SIM cards and a modem, among others. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: The police have busted a syndicate that used sexual blackmail tactics to prey on its victims with the arrest of nine suspects, including two women and a teenager. Berita Harian reported that the suspects, aged 17 to 50 years old, were arrested in an operation from June 20 to July 1 around Johor Bahru and Kulai in Johor. Johor police chief M Kumar said the syndicate, which had been operating since last November, had its female members create fake social media accounts to entice its victims into making lewd video calls. He said they would then send the victim a mobile link, which would access the victim's photo gallery and contact list when clicked. 'The syndicate persuaded its victims to commit lewd acts on video calls, which would be recorded and used to blackmail them for money. 'The victims were generally forced to make payments of RM500 to RM1,000, and threatened with the distribution of their lewd videos to their contacts, including their family,' he said. Kumar said the syndicate also recruited non-schooling teenagers on social media as workers, paying them RM2,200 to RM4,000. He said they would be trained before being forced to work in other countries, such as Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand. The raids saw the rescue of three such victims, aged 15 to 16 years old. 'These teenagers would be locked up and forced to work 12 hours a day, and beaten if they refused to cooperate. 'Though they were given two-week breaks, their movements were still controlled and their mobile phones and identity cards confiscated. 'Those looking to quit would have to pay RM30,000 to be set free,' he said. Kumar said the raids saw the seizure of 27 mobile phones, identity cards, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, laptops, 49 SIM cards and a modem, among others. The suspects in custody, including the mastermind, are being investigated under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, as well as the National Registration Regulations 1990, Passport Act 1966, Penal Code and Societies Act 1966. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
05-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Man with gunshot wounds dumped at JB hospital after botched robbery attempt, bodyguard among three nabbed in KL
JOHOR BARU, July 5 – A man reportedly died from gunshot wounds at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) following failed robbery attempts at a petrol station in Iskandar Puteri here earlier this week. Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar reportedly said a man's body was found dumped at the hospital around 1.40am on Thursday, approximately an hour after the attempted robbery. 'Hospital staff alerted police to the presence of a man's body with multiple gunshot wounds. CCTV footage showed two men leaving the body at the hospital entrance in a dark-coloured vehicle before driving off,' he said in a statement yesterday. The incident occurred at about 12.10am on Thursday when four masked men armed with machetes attempted to ambush a parked vehicle near the Second Link Expressway. CCTV footage that has gone viral showed the assailants smashing the vehicle's windows before one of its occupants opened fire, prompting the suspects to flee. Three of the men escaped in a getaway car, while the fourth fled on foot. The deceased was identified as a 42-year-old man from Sungai Petani, Kedah, with four prior criminal offences. A post-mortem found he died from gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, and police are investigating whether he was one of the suspects involved in the robbery attempt. Police later arrested three men in Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur, around 7pm on the same day with the help of a joint police team from Johor and Iskandar Puteri. The suspects, aged between 30 and 40, included two Malaysians and one Indian national. During the arrest, police seized a Glock 19 pistol upper receiver, a licensed firearm permit, six 9mm bullets, bullet casings, and a black car believed to have been used in the incident. One suspect is a licensed personal bodyguard, and police are investigating whether the weapon was used lawfully. The trio are being remanded until July 10, and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, Section 148 for rioting with weapons, and Section 39 of the Arms Act 1960.
