MELAKA (Feb 15): A director of an oil palm plantation company operating in Paya Mengkuang here suffered losses amounting to RM1.03 million after being deceived by a fake oil palm plantation tender offer last year.

Melaka police chief Datuk Zainol Samah said the 69-year-old victim was offered a tender for 607.04 hectares in Ipoh, Perak, and 485.63 hectares in Melaka by an individual known only as 'Neliar' through a phone call in June last year.

He said the victim was informed by the suspect that the tender offer was open on July 17 before closing on Oct 31 last year, and discussions were held before the victim agreed to participate in the offer.

“The victim was then asked to deposit RM15,000 as a sign of agreement and promised to receive the tender winning certificate. Throughout the process, the suspect did not show any documents related to the tender to the victim.

“During the same period, the victim made 45 payment transactions in stages to six different bank accounts involving a total amount of RM1.03 million before being informed that he had successfully entered and won the tender. However, until now, he has not received any documents or the promised winning certificate,” he said in a statement here on Thursday.

He said the victim, who later realised he had been duped, lodged a report at the Alor Gajah police station on Jan 19, and the case is being investigated under Section 420 for cheating.

He said following this, the 39-year-old suspect, who is a lorry driver, was arrested in Kapar, Selangor on Feb 9 and will be charged at the Alor Gajah Sessions Court on Friday.