A 39-YEAR-OLD foreign man was arrested last night at a mosque in Kampung Kepala Gajah, Simpang Ampat, after he was found collecting donations using a falsified approval letter purportedly from the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP).
The arrest, which took place around 8pm, was carried out by JHEAIPP's Enforcement Division following reports from both the religious office and concerned members of the public.
Muhamad Helmi Rosley, Head of Operations at JHEAIPP's Enforcement Division, revealed that a month-long surveillance operation had been conducted prior to the arrest, which uncovered a syndicate actively collecting charity funds at night markets and supermarkets across the state.
“Investigations revealed that the suspect used a forged letter featuring the Department's letterhead and a fake signature of the Director of JHEAIPP to convince members of the public to donate,” he said during a press conference yesterday.
“The activities have been ongoing for approximately two months, with the suspect collecting between RM150 and RM250 daily. Based on this pattern, we do not rule out the involvement of more than three individuals operating under a syndicate,” he added.
Helmi further emphasised that any charitable collections must first receive formal approval in writing from the Penang State Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP).
“We urge the public to exercise caution before contributing to any charitable cause and to verify approval letters with the Department to avoid falling victim to fraud.
“We remain committed and serious in addressing issues surrounding charity collections, infaq, and khairat, including agents collecting zakat for other states within Penang, which is currently a widespread issue,” he said.
The suspect is expected to be charged this morning at the Penang Syariah High Court under Section 106(5), which carries a penalty of up to RM5,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both upon conviction. - October 17, 2025
