Sabah Police Dismantle RM600,000 Spiritual Healing Scam Syndicate, Arresting 12 Suspects Including Seven Chinese Nationals

Fraud schemes exploiting cultural beliefs in traditional healing and fortune-telling have emerged as a persistent threat across Southeast Asia, with Malaysian law enforcement agencies recording a steady rise in such cases over recent years. These operations typically prey on vulnerable individuals seeking spiritual or medical remedies, extracting cash and valuables under the guise of religious rituals and mystical cleansing practices. In Sabah, authorities have now moved decisively against one such network — dismantling a syndicate responsible for defrauding victims of an estimated RM600,000 through ritual cleansing and fortune-telling scams.

Sabah Police Officially Confirm Multi-District Raids Resulting in 12 Arrests Linked to Spiritual Fraud Syndicate

Sabah police have formally confirmed the arrest of 12 individuals in connection with a syndicate that operated an elaborate spiritual healing scam across multiple districts in the state. The coordinated operation was conducted by the Sabah police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) together with district-level CCID units, targeting locations across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau, and Kota Belud over two consecutive days — Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10, 2026.

Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azhar Hamin states that “during raids in Kota Kinabalu and Keningau on Saturday, police arrested four people before continuing the operation in Kota Belud the following day, where eight more suspects were arrested, including seven Chinese women.” Of the 12 individuals detained, 10 are women and two are men. Seven of the arrested suspects hold Chinese nationality.

The syndicate is confirmed to have been active since early 2026. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries serious criminal penalties upon conviction.

How the Syndicate Operated: Fortune-Telling, Ritual Incantations, and a Calculated Bait-and-Switch Scheme Targeting Trusting Victims

The ritual cleansing and fortune-telling scam executed by this syndicate followed a carefully structured modus operandi designed to exploit victims’ trust in traditional healing and spiritual practices. According to Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azhar Hamin, suspects would initially approach targets by offering traditional medicine, treatment for illnesses, or religious rituals purporting to remove bad luck.

A second operative — typically a woman — would then be introduced, presenting herself as possessing the ability to conduct fortune-telling, spiritual healing, or special cleansing rituals. Victims were subsequently persuaded to surrender cash or jewellery, which suspects claimed were necessary for prayers, incantations, or ceremonial purposes.

Azhar states that “the money or jewellery was then stolen or swapped with other items placed inside a plastic bag or pouch,” with victims instructed not to open the bag for a specified period. This deliberate delay provided syndicate members with sufficient time to flee the scene before the deception was discovered.

The syndicate is believed to be connected to at least five to six reported cases in the Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and Sandakan areas, with total victim losses estimated at RM600,000.

Reportedly, the Syndicate’s Victims Were Individuals Seeking Spiritual Relief, Highlighting a Broader Vulnerability Exploited Across Sabah Communities

A segment of the public has long sought recourse through traditional healing, fortune-telling, and ritual cleansing practices when facing illness, misfortune, or personal distress — and criminal syndicates have systematically identified this vulnerability as an avenue for fraud. This latest case in Sabah illustrates how scam networks exploit deeply held cultural and spiritual beliefs to engineer financial crimes under the cover of trusted community practices.

According to the confirmed details of this investigation, the syndicate’s targets were individuals who sought what they believed to be legitimate traditional or spiritual assistance. Whether seeking treatment for illness or requesting rituals to dispel bad luck, victims were drawn in by an approach designed to establish credibility before the deception was executed. The financial losses sustained — totalling approximately RM600,000 — reflect not only the scale of the operation but the significant personal cost borne by those who trusted the syndicate’s false representations.

Authorities note that the syndicate’s method of operating across multiple districts, including Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau, Kota Belud, and Sandakan, suggests a coordinated criminal enterprise rather than isolated incidents of individual fraud.

Sabah CCID Has Seized Vehicles, Mobile Devices, and Multi-Currency Cash in an Operation Reflecting the Syndicate’s Cross-Border Dimensions

Public records from the police operation confirm the seizure of significant assets, underlining the organised and cross-border character of the scam syndicate. Items seized by the Sabah CCID during the raids include 13 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards, seven passports, and cash in Malaysian Ringgit, Chinese Renminbi, and Thai Baht — with total cash seized amounting to approximately RM20,000.

Five vehicles were also confiscated in connection with the case: a Perodua Alza, a Proton X50, a Toyota Corolla, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and a Honda HR-V. The presence of foreign-currency holdings and multiple passports among the seized items is consistent with the syndicate’s composition, which includes seven Chinese nationals among the 12 arrested.

Suspects linked to the Kota Kinabalu case have been remanded until August 14, 2026, with investigation papers submitted to the deputy public prosecutor. Charges for the Kota Kinabalu case are expected to be filed on August 14, while charges related to the Sandakan cases are scheduled for the following week. All 12 suspects face investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Sabah Spiritual Healing Scam Syndicate Arrests

How many people were arrested in the Sabah spiritual healing scam case? A total of 12 people were arrested in connection with the Sabah spiritual healing scam, comprising 10 women and two men. Seven of the 12 suspects are Chinese nationals.

How much money did the spiritual healing scam syndicate defraud from victims? The syndicate is estimated to have defrauded victims of approximately RM600,000 across at least five to six reported cases in the Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and Sandakan areas of Sabah.

What was the modus operandi of the fortune-telling and ritual cleansing scam in Sabah? Syndicate members approached victims by offering traditional medicine, treatment for illness, or religious rituals to remove bad luck. A second operative claiming to perform fortune-telling or spiritual healing would then persuade victims to hand over cash or jewellery for prayers or ceremonies. The valuables were subsequently stolen or swapped with worthless items placed in a bag, while victims were told not to open the bag for a set period — giving suspects time to escape.

Which districts in Sabah were targeted by the spiritual fraud syndicate? The syndicate operated across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau, Kota Belud, and Sandakan in Sabah, with confirmed cases reported in at least five to six locations across these areas.

What charges do the arrested suspects face in the Sabah scam case? All 12 suspects are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which applies to fraudulent deception causing delivery of property.

What items were seized during the Sabah CCID raids on the scam syndicate? Police seized 13 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards, seven passports, five vehicles (a Perodua Alza, Proton X50, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Honda HR-V), and approximately RM20,000 in cash comprising Malaysian Ringgit, Chinese Renminbi, and Thai Baht.

When are charges expected to be filed against the suspects in the Sabah spiritual healing scam? Charges for suspects linked to the Kota Kinabalu case are expected to be filed on August 14, 2026. Charges related to the Sandakan cases are scheduled for the following week.

Sabah Police Authorities Urge Vigilance as Commercial Crime Units Continue Operations Against Ritual Fraud Syndicates

The successful dismantling of this ritual cleansing and fortune-telling scam syndicate in Sabah represents a significant enforcement outcome by the state’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department, which coordinated the two-day operation across four districts. With 12 arrests made, RM20,000 in multi-currency cash and five vehicles seized, and prosecution proceedings already initiated, the case signals continued vigilance by Sabah authorities against syndicates that exploit spiritual and cultural beliefs for financial gain.

Members of the public who believe they have been approached by or fallen victim to similar spiritual healing or fortune-telling scams are encouraged to report such incidents to the nearest police station or the Sabah CCID directly.

For official inquiries related to this case or commercial crime reporting in Sabah, members of the public may contact:

Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK Sabah) Jalan Penampang, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia General Line: +6088-322 222 Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Sabah: +6088-322 333 Official Portal: www.rmp.gov.my