KUCHING: Police arrested six individuals believed to be involved in a robbery syndicate using a mobile application to lure victims.
Kuching District Police Headquarters, in a statement, confirmed that the suspects – four men and two women – were picked up in an operation carried out between 3:00 am and 8:30 am on Friday at four separate locations.
The case unfolded after a 23-year-old man was assaulted at a hotel by two men who claimed to be the husband and cousin of a woman he had befriended through a mobile application called MiChat.
During the incident, the victim was beaten with a chair, threatened with a knife and forced to hand over RM500.
The suspects also fled with his car key, identity card, debit card and mobile phone.
Investigations found that the group used a “honey trap” tactic, where a woman acted as bait to lure victims before the male accomplices carried out threats, violence and extortion.
All six suspects have been remanded for seven days until November 21 to facilitate investigations under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code.
Police have since advised the public to remain cautious when using online dating applications and to immediately report any suspicious behaviour.
