By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, June 2: A 29-year-old woman who claimed she was robbed at gunpoint by four men in Miri is now under investigation after police uncovered evidence that the alleged robbery never happened and that the valuables she reported stolen were still in her possession.
Miri District Police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said the woman had lodged a police report at 1.58am on May 28, alleging that she was robbed by four men travelling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle at about 10pm the previous night.
According to her report, she had stopped her vehicle by the roadside opposite Miri Gospel Chapel Church in Pujut, Miri, while alone to relieve herself when the suspects allegedly approached her.
“She claimed one of the suspects pointed a pistol at her before making off with a gold necklace, a gold ring, a gold bracelet and RM350 in cash, resulting in losses estimated at RM3,130,” he said in a statement on Monday (June 1).
Following the report, police launched an investigation under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery and armed robbery.
However, Mohd Farhan said investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Miri District Police Headquarters uncovered numerous inconsistencies in the information provided by the complainant during the course of the investigation.
“Extensive intelligence-gathering and investigations carried out by the CID successfully obtained evidence showing that the robbery reported by the complainant did not occur,” he said.
Confronted with the evidence, the woman eventually admitted that the report she had lodged was false.
“All the jewellery and cash she had claimed were stolen were later found safely in her possession,” he said.
As a result, Mohd Farhan confirmed that the investigating officer handling the case lodged a separate police report against the woman for intentionally providing false information to a public servant.
The woman is now being investigated under Section 182 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.
Mohd Farhan reminded the public not to lodge false police reports for personal gain or self-interest, stressing that such actions constitute a serious offence and could result in legal consequences. — DayakDaily
