An employee of a PETRONAS contractor was detained by police for spreading fake news of the deaths of family members to get RM 91,000 in donations

 

Man receives RM91,000 public donations over fake sad story

Bernama

September 5, 2021

The man was arrested at the Bayu Damai police station in Kota Tinggi, yesterday, and remanded for four days from today. - AWANI

JOHOR BAHRU: A man who claimed that 14 of his family members had died as a result of COVID-19 to gain public sympathy had been collecting donations amounting to RM91,000 since June.

Kota Tinggi district police chief Supt Hussin Zamora said the 45-year-old man was believed to have spread fake news of the deaths of family members to get donations.

The man was arrested at the Bayu Damai police station in Kota Tinggi, yesterday, and remanded for four days from today.

"He managed to garner public sympathy by spreading false news through Whatsapp and Facebook claiming that he is facing a severe test over the loss of his family members, and donations were banked into his account," Hussin said in a statement, today

Hussin said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, and if convicted the man could be jailed for not less than one year and not more than 10 years, with whipping. and could be fined.

He advised the public to always be vigilant before making any contribution or donation so as not to fall victim to fraud.

Earlier, Petronas in a statement confirmed that an employee of a contractor at the Pengerang Integrated Complex near Kota Tinggi had been detained by the authorities over false allegations of the loss of several family members due to COVID-19 infection.

-- BERNAMA



Fake COVID-19 claims: Petronas contractor's worker detained

Bernama'
September 5, 2021 14:22 MYT

Fake COVID-19 claims: Petronas contractor's worker detained

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), in a statement here said the man had been receiving donations following his appeal for public sympathy.

JOHOR BAHRU: An employee of a contractor at Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex in Kota Tinggi, who allegedly made fake claims that he had lost several family members due to COVID-19, has been detained.

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), in a statement here said the man had been receiving donations following his appeal for public sympathy.

"We wish to stress that we do not condone such misconduct by any of our employees and contractors, who are all bound by strict code of conduct and business ethics while performing services for Petronas and its Group of Companies," the statement said.

A message claiming a Petronas employee has gone through a lot after losing his children, wife, mother and siblings due to COVID-19, had recently been making its round on social media.


The message also called on the public to channel their donations to the employee's bank account.

Meanwhile Kota Tinggi district police chief Supt Hussin Zamora in confirming the arrest said the case would be investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
-- BERNAMA