Police Crack Cases
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - A bogus bomoh who duped eight victims and fled with cash amounting to $6,000 was arrested and hauled to court, police said yesterday amid solving several crime cases.

The Acting Senior Superintendent of Police, Pg. Hj Rakit Pg. Hj Osman who is also the OCPD of Brunei Police District, told media that the bomoh (spiritual healer), a local man who approached his victims to tell the fate of one's business project and the fate of future 'amah' or domestic employee characteristic to be employed by the employer was brought to court and has been remanded for another two weeks for investigations. It was believedthat the bomoh duped his victims in October and November this year.

"The modus operandi that he used was by asking them (victims) to take ablutions and recite prayers before running away while the victims were doing as instructed," the OCPD said.

In one of the modus operandi detected in mid-November and highlighted in the Bulletin, the bomoh asked a 40-yearold woman victim to hand-in advance cash and two copies of a maid's biodata to check her background.

The victim was asked to recite religious verses 11 times, look into his eyes and ordered to remove cash before performing an ablution. The bomoh then ordered the victim to hand in $900 cash before telling the victim to take another ablution. But just after, the woman realized the bomoh was nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, police also revealed yesterday that eight stolen cars, majority of which were old models where the keys are easily duplicated, were retrieved. They include a Toyota Kijang, Toyota Corona, Corolla, Daihatsu Charmant worth in total $22,000 to $25,000.

Two men were detained by police in connection with the theft cases lodged at Brunei-Muara and Tutong police stations.

Elsewhere, five men have been arrested in connection with a spate of house break-ins and theft. With the arrests, police have solved several break-ins. Stolen items retrieved included mobile phones, television sets, calligraphic frames, musical instruments and gas cylinders. Those who lodged the reports are requested to go to the central police station to identify their lost properties and also assist in investigations.

Brunei Police District conducted surveillance lately to monitor several locations prone to crime. They also ambushed several sites following tip-offs.

Pg. Hj Rakit also said that till November this year, criminal activities decreased year-on-year, and so too were the number of theft cases' solved.

Also present during the media conference were ASP Hj Mohd Khairul Amilin b. Hj Idris, Acting District Crime Officer and ASP Hj Rashid b. Hj Kassim, Officer In Command of the Police Station.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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