Kedah police chief Asri Yusoff said the suspect, in his 50s, was picked up at the medal presentation ceremony at 1.30pm following a public tip-off on the function organised by a volunteer association in Perak.
“The cheating was done by linking the name of a royalty from a state, who was said to have given his ‘blessings’ in awarding the medals. However, we cannot mention which state (that the royalty comes from),” he told a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters here today.
Asri said about 200-odd guests, including 95 medal recipients, aged 30 to 50, comprising several VIPs and retired civil servants from various states, attended the four-hour function which ended at noon.
“The ceremony was officiated by a VIP who was told to award the medals on behalf of his elder brother. However, he did not know anything about the scam,” he said.
Asri said the victims, who were “conferred” the Ahli Kehormat Pingat Setia Raja Negara (PSRN) medal were required to bank in RM5,000 each to the association’s account as a membership fee.
“(Although) the association is registered under the Registrar of Societies (RoS), an association cannot award any medal resembling those issued by the palace to members of the public,” he said.
Following the arrest, police seized the backdrop of the ceremony, five souvenir plaques, a trophy, 65 sashes and 66 medals.
Those with information on the conferment of the awards are urged to contact the investigating officer at 013-5882930.
Asri said the case was being investigated under Section 419 of the Penal Code.