Indonesian police have arrested a man claiming to be an oil tycoon from Singapore who is suspected of hypnotising people while robbing them.
“The suspect is being questioned by the Jakarta police,” South Jakarta police criminal investigation unit chief Stefanus Tamuntuan told the Kompas.com news website on Thursday.
He said the suspect, identified as BS, may have been part of a group that had conned victims using various methods.
Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said the Singaporean was arrested at the arrival gate of Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday.
“Police have also confiscated evidence, such as a Permata Bank cheque worth Rp1.3 billion and one bundle of ownership certificates.”
A 60-year-old woman reported on July 21 that she had been conned by the suspect, having lost Rp40 million. She handed over to police three closed-circuit television camera tape recordings, money and a business card with a Shell company logo printed on it.
The alleged victim’s daughter said her mother had met a man claiming to be an oil tycoon, who asked for directions and wanted to exchange foreign currency.
She said an older man had approached her mother and asked her to help the suspect and to withdraw money from a bank in Cipulir, South Jakarta.
Another alleged victim has also come forward, claiming to have been cheated out of Rp70 million.
Source: Straits Times