KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — The Royal Malaysia Police has received 31 reports related to an umrah fraud case as of today, involving RM2.1 million in losses.
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said 19 reports were made by victims, while 11 reports were lodged by agents representing smaller groups.
“Additionally, one report was made by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture,” he told Bernama.
Regarding the eight individuals, including a married couple who own a travel agency, who are currently under remand until tomorrow to assist in the investigation, Hussein said the police will apply for an extension of the remand order.
On Wednesday (January 15), a team from the Selangor police contingent’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department inspected the travel agency’s office in Sepang.
That same evening, the agency’s managing director held a press conference in the capital, which turned chaotic when he was detained to assist in the investigation following the company’s failure to transport over 300 Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Initial investigations found that the company began its operations in 2022, and has been operating from three-storey premises in Sepang since October last year.
— Bernama