15/06/2025

NATIONAL 5 ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2025

Cybercrime cases in Penang surge by 38%

RM5 billion lost annually to illicit cigarette trade

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN: Cybercrime cases in Penang have surged by 38% in the first five months of this year compared with the same period in 2024, according to state police chief Commissioner Datuk Hamzah Ahmad. Between January and May, a total of 1,129 reports were lodged, up from 818 during the same period last year. Financial losses also rose significantly, increasing by RM13 million – from RM44.87 million in 2024 to RM57.87 million this year. Investment fraud remained the most common scam, with 268 cases reported between January and May, a 74% increase from 154 cases during the same period last year. Other prevalent scams included online impersonation, non-existent loans, e-commerce fraud, love scams and One dead, two injured in Brickfields shooting KUALA LUMPUR: A man was killed and two others injured after being shot at a restaurant along Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields on Friday night. District police chief ACP Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood said the incident occurred at about 11pm, when the three men, aged between 30 and 50, were dining with friends and were approached by two men on a motorcycle who opened fire. “One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene due to gunshot wounds. His body was sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) for an autopsy,” he said during a visit to the scene yesterday. The two other victims were taken to UMMC for treatment. One sustained serious injuries while the other was reported to be in stable condition with minor wounds. Ku Mashariman said police are reviewing closed-circuit television footage and working to determine the motive and identities of the suspects. – Bernama Losses hit RM57.8m as investment scams spike, with police warning public to stay alert against online fraud Ű BY T. C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

district Commercial Crime Investigation Division, claiming she was introduced to another woman posing as a marketing officer in 2022. The “officer” promised high returns over a short period and guided her through the investment process. The victim made 51 cash deposits into five separate bank accounts over nearly two years. Despite repeated attempts to withdraw her funds, she was given a string of excuses, including claims that the money had not matured or was under the control of Bank Negara Malaysia. She was also asked to make further payments for supposed legal and facilitation fees in order to recover her capital and profits. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. Police have confirmed that the neighbour was arrested on June 11 on suspicion of being involved in the scam, along with two other suspects. All three were remanded for four days beginning June 12 to assist with investigations. Police believe the neighbour acted as a middleman for the main suspect. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant, verify any financial offers and report suspicious activity to police or via the National Scam Response Centre by calling 997.

phone scams. Love scams or parcel scams recorded a 36.4% decrease, with 12 fewer cases than the previous year. Phone scams also declined slightly by 2.3%, with two fewer reports. Hamzah attributed the rising trend to a general lack of awareness about modern fraud tactics. “Many people still don’t realise how the information they share online can be misused,” he told theSun in a statement. He said unrealistic promises, especially those offering high returns or lucrative job offers, were key reasons victims fell prey. “Scammers often manipulate emotions such as sympathy, love or greed to deceive their victims. This situation shows that all groups are vulnerable to such tactics, and what is worrying is that many still ignore the advice and information regularly shared by the authorities.” To combat the threat, police have intensified its anti-scam campaigns through public talks, exhibitions, social media outreach, community dialogues and collaborations with other agencies to boost cyber safety awareness. One recent case involved a 57-year-old housewife in North Seberang Perai who lost RM521,450 to an investment scam introduced by her neighbour. She lodged a report on June 10 with the

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia incurs significant losses from the rampant trade in illicit cigarettes, with an estimated RM5 billion in tax revenue lost annually, according to the latest NielsenIQ Illicit Cigarettes Study released in March. The study found that illegal cigarettes make up 54.6% of all cigarettes sold in the country, highlighting the size and strength of the black market. The widespread trade not only deprives the government of crucial revenue but also undermines national public health efforts. A key finding was the dominance of 10 leading contraband brands, which together account for roughly 75% of all illicit cigarettes smuggled into Malaysia. The brands are identified as primary contributors to ongoing tax leakage. The report also flagged serious concerns over tax stamp fraud. It revealed that 69% of illegal cigarette packs carried no tax stamp at all, while 31% bore counterfeit stamps – indicating growing sophistication among smuggling syndicates. As of March, fake tax stamps were found on 16.7% of seized illicit packs, up from 15.6% in May 2024. This rising trend suggests that criminal networks are becoming increasingly adept at circumventing enforcement and exploiting weaknesses in the regulatory system. In addition, the top 10 brands found with counterfeit tax stamps did not overlap with the top 10 most consumed contraband brands, suggesting a wider and more complex illicit trade network than previously understood. Johor, Selangor and Sabah were identified as key hotspots for smuggling activity. The states serve as major entry and distribution points for illegal tobacco products and represent a large proportion of national cigarette consumption, making them critical targets in enforcement efforts. Despite the scale of the issue, the study noted slight progress. The prevalence of illicit cigarettes fell by 0.2%, from 54.8% in January 2024 to 54.6% in March this year. This modest decline is attributed to continued enforcement by the authorities. The study also highlighted a longer term downward trend, with the rate of illicit cigarette consumption dropping steadily since peaking at 63.8% in 2020. The improvement is credited to stronger enforcement and the ban on trans-shipment of tobacco products. A significant breakthrough in the fight against the trade occurred on March 5, when Johor Customs intercepted a major shipment at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas. Officers discovered more than six million contraband cigarettes concealed among 444 pieces of plywood in a 40-foot container. The shipment had been falsely declared in Customs documentation as “other plywood, consisting solely of sheets of wood”. The seized items were valued at RM1.61 million, with unpaid duties estimated at RM4.58 million. The case is being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for false declaration.

HIGH TURNOUT ... Motorists taking the opportunity to check and settle their traffic summonses, with discounts of up to 50%, during the Youth Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka yesterday. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Actor-singer to be charged with sexual misconduct SHAH ALAM: A male actor and singer suspected of committing sexual Against Children Act 2017 for committing physical sexual misconduct against the victim.

June 3 and later released on police bail after providing his statement. Investigations revealed the 17-year-old is a fan of the celebrity and had previously met him twice at his concerts. “The victim and the suspect became acquainted through meetings at several locations,” Hussein Omar added. The teenager’s mother lodged a police report following the alleged incident at the hotel. – Bernama

misconduct against a 17-year-old girl will be charged at the Putrajaya Court on Tuesday. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the directive to prosecute was received from the Selangor Deputy Public Prosecutor Office on Friday. “The suspect will be charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences

“Police is committed to ensuring justice is served. A thorough investigation was conducted to protect the victim’s rights and ensure transparency in the legal process,” he said in a statement. Police believe the incident occurred during the victim’s first visit to a hotel with the actor-singer, who was detained on