Victims fall prey to local swindler
By Rosli Abidin Yahya 

Victims who have fallen prey to the sweet talks of a local man offering shares of a prepaid water metre project should organise a meeting to discuss the matter at length and find amicable solutions to their woos. The businessman who claimed he was cheated by the alleged swindler encouraged all victims to group themselves together to figure out the next step of action.

He added it was such a painful experience losing $25,000 to a swindler who promised him shares in the prepaid water metre project. The alleged swindler, he claimed had vanished into the thin air.

The businessman had earlier said he had put many projects on hold after he parted with his hard-earned cash, which forced him not to pay his workers for a few months.

Several more people were also allegedly cheated by the swindler including government pensioners and a concert organiser.

After the story was published by the Bulletin, more people claimed they had been duped into buying shares in the prepaid water metre project.

A local restaurateur said he nearly fell for the sweet promises of the alleged swindler. Luckily he pulled out of the deal at the last minute.

"He wanted to hit me as well bring people to punch me if I did not pursue the deal," he said.

Another victim said he was also sweet-talked into the project by the person but "he could not do anything because I did not have money even though he threatened to bring people to hit me".

However, he said the swindler photocopied his land grant and other related documents.

"I am afraid that he might have used my land grant to swindle other people. Who knows he might have sold my land without my knowledge using the photocopied documents," he said adding that the swindler went to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching shortly after obtaining copies of his land documents.

He added that the swindler asked him for some money as he needed to look presentable talking to businessmen in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

"I did not think of anything negative at first and thought it was OK for him to present himself as smart as he can to other businessmen.

"But now I am worried he could have used my land documents to swindle people from the neighbouring countries," he said.

Victims added the swindler was not at all serious of any business proposals.

"His intention is to siphon money from gullible people. And he disappeared after he managed to get money from victims," they said.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin