Phone extortion gang busted

BALIK PULAU: Police have busted the Toh Poi gang which specialises in telephone extortion with the arrest of three men on Monday.
Southwest district police chief Supt Lai Fah Hin said the trio were detained in various locations in Butterworth about 6.45pm.
He said investigations showed the trio could extort up to RM100,000 from their victims but police could not yet ascertain the total amount of losses.
He said an initial probe showed the trio, aged between 28 and 55, was responsible for 20 cases since 2010.
He said the gang obtained the contacts of their victims via name cards and advertisements.
He said the victims would then receive threatening phone calls with demands of cash ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000.
"The suspects will threaten them if their victims refuse," he said in a press conference today.
Lai said police also seized nine mobile phones, four SIM cards, a bank pass book and an ATM card during the operation.
He said the bank account and ATM card were registered under the leader of the gang who is the oldest member among the trio while the SIM cards were registered under the names of foreigners.
He said all three have been remanded until tomorrow to assist in investigations under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion which carries a maximum 10-year prison term, whipping and fine.