Police Wrapping Up Case Of Iranians Who Robbed 'Hypnotised' Tourists In George Town

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Police are finalising investigation papers on the case of five Iranian nationals who were arrested for investigation into the alleged theft of money from foreign tourists around the George Town city centre last Saturday.

Acting Penang police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said all five, aged between 19 and 35, have finished their police remand and are currently being remanded by the Immigration Department (JIM) until Aug 15.

"Police are still conducting investigations from various angles including the possibility of their involvement in similar cases in other places (other states) however, there have been no findings so far.

"Investigations so far show that they are involved in three cases reported in the George Town area and we are completing the investigation papers before it is sent to the Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office for further action," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He said police were also still waiting for a response from JIM to confirm the authenticity of the passports of the five Iranians, including a married couple, and records of their entry and exit in the country.

Mohd Alwi said his party was investigating the cases under Section 379 of the Penal Code (for theft) and Section 380 the same act in addition to Section 6 and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Last Saturday, police arrested the three men and two women at Plaza Gurney during an Ops Tourist operation to assist in the investigation into the theft of money from foreign tourists who were believed to have been swindled through trickery around the city centre, where the suspects are believed to possess expertise to swindle with sweet-talking skills to carry out the crime such as casting victims under a spell or a charm (pukau) before stealing their money.

Police received three reports of cash theft involving tourists in a hypnosis scam (pukau) that occurred in the Pulau Tikus and Jalan Penang areas involving victims who were Taiwanese, Dutch and Syrian nationals, all aged between 29 and 52, in incidents from July 30 to Aug 1.

-- BERNAMA