KOTA KINABALU: A contractor has been arrested for allegedly cheating a customer of about RM43,000 in Beaufort district four years ago.

       Beaufort OCPD Deputy Supt Yusoff Zaki Mat Yaacob said according to the victim, he had made a home construction deal with the 37-year-old suspect in February 2017.

       “An upfront payment was required and the victim allegedly transferred a total of RM43,000 in three transactions to the suspect,” DSP Yusoff Zaki said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 23).

       However, the suspect did not start work even after the upfront payment was made, he added.

       DSP Yusoff Zaki said the victim tried calling the contractor for updates, and eventually could no longer get in touch with the suspect by phone.

       The victim then visited an office which the contractor had said was his, only to find that the company no longer occupied the premises.

       Fearing that he might have been cheated, he then lodged a police report on the matter.

       Police from the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) managed to track down and arrest the suspect here at about 3.30pm on Wednesday (Sept 22).

       DSP Yusoff Zaki said the case was being investigated for cheating, and added that an offender could face up to 10 years’ jail, whipping and a fine upon conviction.