JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - A 33-year-old man banished to Pahang for two years not only violated the restricted residence order but also had the audacity to pose as the Johor police chief in order to dispose of "seized computers" to a state executive councilor.

The man was banished to Jerantut under the Emergency Ordinance and was to spend two years there for a string of criminal activities that he was alleged to have been involved in but investigations later revealed that he had made his way here early this month.

On May 9, he sent a text message to Johor's Unity, Human Resource, Science and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan claiming he had tried contacting him and signed off as Deputy Commissioner Mokhtar, in reference to state police chief Datuk Mokhtar Shariff.

When Asojan returned the call, the man claimed to be Mokhtar and said his voice sounded different as he had a sore throat.

He then said he had several computers that were seized in a joint operation with the Customs Department and wanted to "sell" them off for RM300 per unit.

The man then gave Asojan a bank account number so that he could bank in an undisclosed amount.

Asojan suspected something amiss and alerted Mokhtar, who advised him to lodge a police report.

When Asojan did not bank in the money, the man kept quiet and attempts to contact him proved futile.

However, federal police detained the man in Kuala Lumpur on May 13 for violating his Emergency Ordinance order. He is currently in police custody in Pahang.

Mokhtar, who confirmed the case, urged anyone contacted by a person claiming to be a police officer and wanting to dispose of "seized" items to call the Johor police hotline at 07-2212999. -NST