Man arrested for allegedly running haj tour scam
A man has been arrested for allegedly running a haj tour scam and cheating victims who had paid him a total sum of $98,250.
The police said that they received a report on Wednesday that more than 80 persons who are scheduled to depart for a haj tour on Thursday (16 August) did not receive confirmation on their flight and visa details.
When police arrested the 47-year-old man, who runs a local tour agency, they found a few Singapore passports and cash amounting to $196,950.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly misled the victims to believe that they could go for haj tours at discounted rates. The victims had handed over their passports and paid the man for the tour.
The man will be charged in court on Friday with cheating. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The police advise members of the public who wish to perform the haj to make enquiries on haj registration with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.
