(Kota Kinabalu, 14 August 2026) — Across Malaysia, fraudulent schemes exploiting cultural beliefs in spiritual healing and fortune telling have claimed thousands of victims over the past decade, with syndicates growing increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Authorities across Sabah and peninsular Malaysia have documented a steady rise in complaints involving fake shamans, bad luck cleansing scams, and fortune telling fraud targeting vulnerable members of the public at popular markets and public spaces. The cheating charges now filed in Kota Kinabalu represent one of the most significant enforcement actions yet against a shaman syndicate operating in Sabah, signalling renewed law enforcement determination to dismantle such criminal networks. Reportedly, the case now before the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court was precipitated by a coordinated police operation that exposed the full scale of an organised cheating conspiracy preying on ordinary women at local markets.
The Long-Standing Fortune Telling Scam in Kota Kinabalu Continues to Trouble Local Women
Imagine arriving early at the Kota Kinabalu City Central Market on a quiet February morning. A stranger — pleasant, convincing, and seemingly knowledgeable — approaches and tells you that misfortune surrounds you, that your family faces danger, and that only a specific ritual or payment can remove the bad luck. For three women in Kota Kinabalu, that scenario was not hypothetical. It was precisely what allegedly happened at the Kota Kinabalu City Central Market at 7.30am on 4 February, at the Menggatal Central Market at 8.00am on 3 February, and at the Gaya Street Weekly Market at 11.30am on 19 July.
The victims — aged 45, 51, and 69 — were approached at separate locations in a pattern consistent with organised shaman syndicate operations: an initial encounter, a story designed to trigger fear and urgency, and a financial transaction framed as a spiritual necessity. This type of fortune telling fraud has proven particularly effective against older women who may hold sincere cultural or spiritual beliefs, making them disproportionately vulnerable to such manipulation.
Why Is Shaman Syndicate Cheating So Hard to Solve? The Underlying Reasons Are More Complex Than Expected
At its core, the persistence of shaman syndicate fraud in Sabah stems from a combination of cultural sensitivity, victim reluctance, and the operational agility of the perpetrators. In fact, many victims of fortune telling scams delay or entirely avoid reporting the crime due to embarrassment, fear of social stigma, or uncertainty about whether a spiritual transaction can even constitute a legal offence.
Syndicates exploit this hesitancy deliberately. Perpetrators typically operate in public, high-footfall environments — markets, pasar minggu, and community gathering spots — where they can approach targets naturally, blend into crowds, and relocate swiftly if confronted. The involvement of foreign nationals, including China nationals, adds a further layer of complexity: cross-border coordination, language barriers, and the logistical challenges of international suspect tracking all slow enforcement. The cheating conspiracy uncovered in Kota Kinabalu involved 12 suspects arrested across four locations — Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau, and Kota Belud — illustrating how geographically dispersed and operationally coordinated these syndicates can become.
Facing Fortune Telling Fraud, What Solutions Currently Exist on the Market?
Public awareness campaigns have historically been the first line of defence against shaman syndicate scams in Malaysia, with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, and various consumer protection bodies issuing periodic advisories. However, awareness messaging alone has proven insufficient. Victims frequently report being fully aware that such scams exist yet still falling prey to perpetrators skilled at building rapid emotional trust.
Civil remedies through the courts present another theoretical avenue, but victims of fortune telling fraud face significant evidentiary challenges: transactions are typically conducted in cash, without receipts or contracts, and often in the absence of independent witnesses. Criminal prosecution under the Penal Code, specifically Section 420 for cheating and Section 120B(1) for criminal conspiracy, represents the most direct mechanism for accountability — yet successful prosecution demands thorough police investigation, cooperative witnesses, and sufficient evidence to prove deception beyond reasonable doubt. The arrest of 12 suspects across Sabah, followed by formal charges in the Sessions Court, demonstrates that coordinated enforcement action remains the most effective available tool against organised cheating syndicates.
The Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court Proceeding Was Established to Address Precisely This Gap in Accountability
Against this backdrop, the prosecution of Hee Nyin Fung, 48, a local woman, and Li Li, 38, a Chinese national, before the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court on 14 August 2026 represents the formal accountability mechanism brought to bear against the alleged cheating syndicate. Both accused pleaded not guilty to two charges read before Sessions Court Judge Zaini Fishir Fisal and one charge before Sessions Court Judge Monica Linsua.
The pair face charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code for conspiring to cheat three local women in separate incidents, and under Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code for participation in a criminal conspiracy to commit a serious offence. Conviction under Section 120B(1) carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, caning, and a possible fine. Both judges set 1 October 2026 for pre-trial case management. The two women were each released on RM5,000 bail, with RM2,000 deposited, subject to two local sureties, passport surrender, and monthly reporting to a police station.
Deputy public prosecutors Mohd Fadzri Azham Zainudin and Nurul Shaferrah Mad Iskim are prosecuting the case. Hee Nyin Fung is represented by Bartholomew Jingulam, while Li Li is represented by Muhamad Amirul Amin. The broader police operation — announced by Deputy Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azhar Hamin — resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals, including China nationals, allegedly responsible for cheating victims of approximately RM600,000 through fortune telling and bad luck cleansing services. Charges are to be filed in both Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kota Kinabalu Shaman Syndicate Cheating Case
Who are the two women charged in the Kota Kinabalu shaman syndicate case? The two women charged are Hee Nyin Fung, 48, a Malaysian national, and Li Li, 38, a Chinese national. Both appeared before the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court on 14 August 2026 and pleaded not guilty to charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy.
What charges do Hee Nyin Fung and Li Li face under the Penal Code? Both accused face charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code for conspiring to cheat three local women, and under Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code for participating in a criminal conspiracy to commit a serious offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, caning, and a possible fine upon conviction.
Who were the victims in the Kota Kinabalu fortune telling scam? Three local women — aged 45, 51, and 69 — were identified as victims. The alleged offences occurred at three separate locations: the Kota Kinabalu City Central Market on 4 February, the Menggatal Central Market on 3 February, and the Gaya Street Weekly Market on 19 July.
How many people were arrested in the broader Sabah shaman syndicate operation? Police arrested 12 people in total, including China nationals, across four locations in Sabah: Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau, and Kota Belud, during operations conducted over the weekend of 8–9 August 2026.
How much money did the shaman syndicate allegedly cheat victims out of? According to Deputy Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azhar Hamin, the syndicate allegedly cheated victims of approximately RM600,000 through services including fortune telling and bad luck cleansing.
What are the bail conditions set for the two accused women? Both Hee Nyin Fung and Li Li were released on RM5,000 bail each, with RM2,000 deposited, subject to two local sureties for each accused. Both women are required to surrender their passports to the court and report to a police station once a month.
When is the next court date for the Kota Kinabalu shaman syndicate cheating case? Both Sessions Court Judge Zaini Fishir Fisal and Sessions Court Judge Monica Linsua set 1 October 2026 as the date for pre-trial case management for the respective charges against the two accused women.
A Pattern of Exploitation Meets Formal Legal Accountability in Sabah
The prosecution of two women linked to an alleged shaman syndicate responsible for cheating at least three victims of undisclosed sums — as part of a broader operation recovering approximately RM600,000 in alleged fraud — marks a significant enforcement milestone for Sabah law enforcement authorities. The case, now entering the pre-trial management phase at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court, underscores the seriousness with which Malaysian prosecutors are treating organised fortune telling fraud and criminal conspiracy targeting vulnerable members of the public. With 12 suspects in total facing charges in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, the case serves as a clear signal that shaman syndicate operations in Sabah face sustained and coordinated legal consequences.
Members of the public who believe they have been targeted by fortune telling scams or bad luck cleansing fraud in Sabah are encouraged to file a police report at their nearest Royal Malaysia Police station immediately.