Kuala Lumpur: A husband and wife, who own a travel agency, were arrested in Kuala Lumpur at 7 pm today in connection with allegations of failing to fly out a group of umrah pilgrims yesterday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan stated that the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) of the Selangor police contingent headquarters (IPK) has seized several computers, passports, and related documents in the course of the investigation. The arrest of the 31-year-old couple followed a police report filed in Sepang regarding an umrah fraud case involving the agency at 10.39 pm yesterday.
The report was made by a 39-year-old woman who claimed to have lost RM11,000 after being left stranded and unable to perform umrah as planned. In response, the police opened an investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which deals with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
Further investigations by the police revealed that 379 individuals had been affected by dealings with the company, all of whom were stranded on the same date, with the total estimated losses amounting to RM2.1 million. Initial findings indicated that the agency had been in operation for two years and had relocated to a three-storey building in Sepang last October.
Hussein explained that the suspects' modus operandi involved attracting prospective pilgrims through advertisements for umrah packages on the company's TikTok app and coordinating with agents appointed by them.
Earlier, a probe by Bernama found that the Selangor CCID IPK team had begun investigating the agency's office in Sepang, with Selangor CCID head Datuk Saiman Kasman observed arriving at the office at 2 pm.
Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) announced today that it is investigating the licensed tourism agency involved in the incident. Media reports from yesterday had indicated that more than 300 umrah pilgrims were left stranded after being promised they would be flown out, only to be left waiting on the departure day.