PADAWAN: A local man’s dream to build his own home on a piece of land he had purchased turned nightmarish when he discovered that the land in question was, in fact, a cemetery.
On Dec 12, 2021, the victim in his late 30s, met an individual to acquire a piece of government reserve land at Jalan Matang.
According to Padawan police chief Supt Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad, the victim had handed over RM1,500 in cash to the man, with the intention of using the land for housing construction.
“However, he was dissatisfied after realising that the land he had purchased was, a cemetery land.
“The victim also suffered another RM20,000 losses, which was for the cost of house construction on the land,” he said.
The victim promptly lodged a police report with the Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) on Monday (Sept 18), outlining his losses amounting to RM21,500.
In light of this incident, authorities are urging prospective land buyers to exercise caution and diligence, and verify the status of the property with the Land and Survey Department before proceeding with any transactions.
Abang Zainal said the public must not be easily fooled by individuals without first checking the validity of the transaction.
He warned that such scams are prevalent and should not be underestimated, as anyone could become a victim if they are not vigilant.
