SMS, Email Fraud Up
By Lyna Mohamad

Bandar Seri Begawan - SMS and email fraud has been on the rise in the country. Despite repeated warnings from relevant agencies, many still fall victims in their eagerness to get rich quick and only realise their mistakes when they lose money. Some report to the police while many resign to their fate and feel ashamed to go public.

The police have again reminded the public not to get easily conned by these offers and should they receive such offers either via email, SMS or facsimile, they must refer them to the authority.

He added that a high level of awareness would help them from being conned easily. The culprits behind these mails and SMS are hard to find as it involves different jurisdictions, he said.

According to statistics, the overall crime rate in Brunei has shown a drop compared to previous years.

Senior Research Officer Roslizawati Ibrahim gave a break down of the crime in numbers.

Overall crime cases stood at 4,519 with 1,900 of them solved and 2,704 arrests made. Police cases totalled 3,379 and 1,046 of them were solved including 1,136 arrests.

The rate of crime stood at 862 cases,for every 100,000 residents.

In crimes against property, car thefts stood at 79 cases (53 per cent down compared to 2006), 177 cases of car break in and theft (down 32 percent), 505 cases of house break in and theft (down eight per cent), 1,213 theft cases (down seven per cent) and 140 fraud cases (up 15 per cent) bringing the total to 2,030 cases (down six per cent).

Out of the 2,030 cases, 60 per cent of them were theft cases leading to 318 arrests involving 254 locals. Withdrawal of cash from ATM with 47 cases, an increase of 62 per cent compared to 2006, topped the list.

Items that were targeted included cables in 176 cases (up by 98 cases compared to 2006) and mobile phones in 129 cases (down 31 per cent).

Of the 505 house break-in and theft eases, 89 arrests were made and 94 per cent of those arrested were locals. Twenty-nine per cent of those arrested were underage with the youngest being eight years old. Sixty-six per cent were jobless individuals.

Thirteen per cent of the theft cases were as a result of the victims not properly locking their house windows. Overall, 67 per cent of the break-in happened during the day.

Of the 79 car theft cases, 30 cars have been found and 18 arrests were made, all local Malays. In most cases, cars were stolen from owners' residence.

There were 140 cases of fraud recorded last year including cases where victims were lured with promises of winning cash prizes through SMS and 56 per cent of those arrested were women. The total estimated loss was recorded at B$2 million.

One murder case, 32 rape cases (up by 14 per cent), five eases of causing grievous ham! (up 67 per cent) and four cases of robbery, bringing the total to 42 cases, were also recorded.

The breakdown of arrests showed 2,270 males and 434 females; 197 of the total number were 18 years below, 1,612 of those arrested were aged between 19 and 35 and 893 aged 36 years and above.

Of the total, 1,607 are locals and 1,097 foreigners with 506 of them working, 156 jobless and 57 students. The total number of underage offenders saw an increase of 36 per cent compared to 2006.

Statistics on road traffic cases saw Sg Akar/Mentiri Highway recording the highest number of accidents at 15 cases followed by Muara/Tutong highway near UBD with 13 cases. In the capital, the Beribi roundabout recorded the highest number of accidents at 12.

Elsewhere, Jalan Junjongan recorded 16 cases, KM 18 Jalan Serialumut bypass recorded 14 cases and Jalan Labu and Jalan Belingus recorded three cases in 2007. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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