KUALA LUMPUR (ANN/THE STAR) – Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Commissioner Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid revealed that majority of scam call centres targeted in recent raids across the city were situated within the confines of opulent luxury condominiums and apartments.
It has raised concerns about how these criminal operations could flourish within these prestigious locations, given that ordinary individuals often find it challenging to gain access to such high-end premises.
“In luxury condos, not just anyone can have access to the place, so how is it that foreigners are even allowed to operate their call centres there?
“We urge the condos’ joint management bodies to take note and fulfil their obligations by not letting such criminal elements operate at their premises,” he told reporters after attending the KL police monthly assembly yesterday.
Commissioner Allaudeen said the police would also investigate the possibility of security guards at such locations being in cahoots with the syndicates.
KL police will cooperate with relevant agencies including the commissioner of buildings to tackle the problem of call centres operating in condominiums, he said.
“I have also instructed KL Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) to step up operations against such call centres in the city. The scam syndicates operating these call centres will be dealt with,” he said.
Since January, KL CCID has conducted 1,311 raids on online crime syndicates in the city, Commissioner Allaudeen said.
“We detained 855 individuals for their involvement in scam call centres between January and September. In the last two months, some 20 raids were conducted on call centres with 342 individuals arrested,” he added.
On another matter, Commissioner Allaudeen said 10,955 individuals have been detained in the city for drug-related offences since January – an increase from the 10,614 arrested between January and September last year.
About MYR60 million worth of drugs was seized in the same period this year, he said.
He added that on October 19, the KL Narcotic Crime Investigation Department seized 208kg of drugs worth MYR7 million.
“I commend the department’s success and I hope it will step up its operations,” Commissioner Allaudeen said.
He added that the crime index between January and September showed a reduction of 382 cases or 10.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.
“Violent crimes had a drop of 121 cases (14.1 per cent). Crimes involving belongings also dropped 10.2 per cent this year compared with the same period last year,” he said. KL Religion and Counselling division (Baka) also conducted 1,001 counselling sessions involving 704 police personnel since January, Commissioner Allaudeen said.
“We must not label those who are seeking assistance and advice. They are having problems and seeking ways to overcome them,” he said.
Integrity and good mental health should be a priority for all in KL police, he said.
“It will lead to better quality of work and accountability,” he added.
During the assembly, Commissioner Allaudeen also reminded all KL police personnel and officers to heed the latest instructions from Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, including that of performing their duties based on integrity and good governance.
“All OCPDs, police station chiefs and supervisors must inspect police lock-ups at least four times daily, including checking on detainees’ meals.
“All operations and arrests should be increased to reduce the fear of crime and elevate the image of the police force,” he said.
