A 64-YEAR-OLD housewife from Sibu has allegedly lost RM554,525 after being duped by a man posing as a bomoh (witch doctor) who promised to heal her ailing son and resolve problems involving her land.
Saratok police chief DSP Mathew Manggie said the 38-year-old lorry driver from Passai Siong, Sibu Jaya, was arrested at a food court in Sibu Jaya at about 9pm on Wednesday.
He said the woman first met the suspect at a coffee shop in Sibu Jaya in June last year, accompanied by three friends, to seek help for her son, who was experiencing health problems.
“The suspect promised to treat her son remotely and gave her a bottle of oil to keep in her bag for protection,” Mathew said in a statement.
The woman reportedly noticed an improvement in her son's condition within a month.
In October last year, the suspect contacted her again and arranged to meet at the same coffee shop, claiming he could resolve problems involving her land through spiritual means.
He later contacted her via WhatsApp and allegedly instructed her to transfer money to purchase items for a miring ritual.
Mathew said the woman was subsequently directed to make transfers into six different bank accounts, amounting to RM554,525.
She eventually suspected she had been cheated and lodged a police report.
Police are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
They seized a Realme mobile phone with a Maxis SIM card believed to be linked to the case during the arrest.
The suspect is being held at the Saratok police station lock-up to assist investigations. - October 30, 2026
