A 20-year-old bomoh (Malay for medium) was arrested on Tuesday night after three of her clients lodged reports that she had stolen RM11,000 ($4,547.40) in cash and jewellery from them while being treated.

In the lock-up, hoping to either scare them or gain their sympathy into releasing her, she started to pull a rope out of her bleeding mouth. But policemen were unfazed so she will stay where she is, at least until Saturday when her remand order ends.

Police said she began her "practice" several months ago in Besarah. There were about 10 patients at her parents' home when she was arrested at 10.30pm.

She claims to be able to remove foreign objects from a person's body and cure sexual problems.