MHO secretary Hishamuddin Hashim said this follows a May 9 report by a Chinese daily that the suspects were brought to the Cheras police headquarters following their arrest, Utusan Malaysia reported.

Hishamuddin said MHO handed over an official letter to the Bukit Aman commercial crime investigation department this morning requesting information on the status of the arrests.

He questioned the lack of an official statement by the authorities given the widespread media coverage of the arrests.

“We have been given to understand that the suspects masterminded the Gigamax investment scheme, which saw local investors lose millions of ringgit,” he said at a press conference.

Police were reported to have opened an investigation paper under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud after Bank Negara Malaysia confirmed the existence of criminal elements within the investment scheme.

They arrested 11 people, including two women, aged between 34 and 59, around Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Melaka on Nov 13 last year.

Hishamuddin said the letter represented 99 investors who lost over RM4.8 million.

“We would like to know whether the suspects are still being detained, have been freed on bail, or handed over to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for prosecution,” he said.

One of the investors, Noraishah Muhammad, 60, expressed hope that the suspects are not being protected.

“We want transparency. As victims, we have a right to the latest updates on the masterminds of the scheme,” she said.