Malaysian police carried out a series of raids in the Forest City complex on mid-July, a location described as a 'ghost town' due to its near-total emptiness. The operation targeted alleged fraud operations taking place within the massive development.
The Forest City project, developed by Chinese developers, was launched in 2016 with the ambitious vision of becoming a 'special financial zone' and a 'paradise for all humanity'. Situated on the Singapore Strait, the project was designed to accommodate approximately 700,000 residents, with an estimated value of $100 billion.
Despite this massive investment, it is estimated that the 14-square-kilometre island is home to less than 1 per cent of the projected population. One of the first purchasers in the development was Jason Deng, a 56-year-old investor who bought five properties, but the majority of the space remains unused.
The police operation covered 32 locations in Forest City, where call centres were found. One such centre occupied 27 apartments, indicating the scale of the organised activities that led to the arrests.
A total of 335 individuals linked to two alleged fraud operations were arrested. Police seized assets worth approximately 1 million ringgit (RM1,000,000; £181,810; $245,000), dealing a significant blow to the financial interests of the accused.
Seized equipment included 313 computers, 1,557 mobile phones, 17 laptops, and 10 modems. These items were likely used to coordinate fraud, further tarnishing the reputation of the project, which was originally promoted as an economic miracle.
