SIBU: Two local men were arrested here today in connection with cheating eight men with non-existent logging jobs in Monrovia, Liberia, where they were stranded.
The two suspects, aged 53 and 60, were each detained by the Sibu Commercial CID at the Sibu police headquarters and a house in Jalan Cherry between 9am and 10am.
Sarawak Commercial CID chief Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said the arrests were made after one of the victims, a 40-year-old from Kapit, lodged a report at 8am today.
The eight victims were rescued following intervention by Wisma Putra and the Liberian government and they arrived at the Sibu Airport at 9.15pm last night.
“Preliminary investigations found that the victim (who lodged the report) received a WeChat message from a man offering logging jobs in Liberia.
“The victim was convinced that he would be given working permit, apart from getting a lucrative salary of RM8,000 a month while food, drinks and transport costs would be borne by the logging company in Liberia,” Mustafa Kamal said in a statement here.
He said the victim and seven other men accepted the offer and met a man to arrange for their flight tickets and visa.
On Jan 3, they were accompanied by another man when they flew to Liberia before being taken to a village in Mount Barclay.
“After staying a month there, they realised they had been cheated and had to sell their personal belongings like watches and handphones to buy groceries,” said Mustafa.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. – Bernama
