Kuala terengganu: A government pensioner's Tabung Haji money and his wife's savings totalling RM88,000 disappeared after being duped by a 'phone scam' syndicate. Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said on Dec 2, the 75-year-old male victim was contacted by a suspect posing as a police officer from the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the suspect claimed that the elderly man, who is from Manir here, was involved in money laundering activities, before his call was connected to a friend of the suspect posing as a public prosecutor. "The suspect asked the victim to pay a sum of money to settle the case and avoid arrest," Azli stated. The panicked victim made several transactions totalling RM88,000 to different account numbers from December 4 to last Thursday, using Tabung Haji money and his wife's savings.

Azli further explained that to avoid detection, the suspect also ordered the victim to tear up the bank receipt, supposedly for security reasons. The victim only informed his wife about the incident after making the final payment. "The victim's wife, who realised she had been cheated, advised her husband to file a police report at 9.01 last night because she was worried about her safety," he added.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which deals with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.