Answer for Oral Question PL288

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Lawi bin Haji Lamat

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG LAWI BIN HAJI LAMAT requested MENTERI PEMBANGUNAN to state what more aggressive cyber enforcement measures are being taken to curb the proliferation of advertisements for low-cost houses by unregistered contractors on social media, which poses a scam threat to first-time homebuyers. How many property fraud cases have successfully been prosecuted in court?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pembangunan

Advertising through social media currently enables services to be offered easily and extensively to the public, including offers to build houses at very low prices. However, a low price alone does not necessarily indicate that fraud has occurred. Risks arise when services are offered by unregistered parties, misleading information is provided, payment is taken without carrying out the work as agreed, or there are other elements of fraud.

Based on this Ministry’s records through the Board Management Division (BMD), there are four reports related to the marketing and sale of real property carried out by individuals who are not registered under the Board of Valuers and Estate Agents (BoVEA). All four cases are still under active investigation by the Royal Brunei Police Force to gather strong evidence before they can be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for prosecution in court.

In the meantime, ABCi has also identified four (4) developers actively displaying advertisements to attract house purchases, involving 50 projects with a total of 131 housing units, which were found to have failed to be completed within the period stipulated in the agreements. This matter involves contractual issues, and the Ministry is examining the possibility of establishing an initiative whereby developer/contractor companies that are frequently complained about for taking excessively long to complete customers’ houses can be listed for public reference and information.

In addition, to date, 27 companies have been identified as having advertised themselves as Builders, of which 20 are companies that are not registered as Builders.

Before any enforcement action, including the imposition of compounds or prosecution, can be considered, further review and investigation must be carried out to verify the type of construction activities undertaken, the scope of work, and the projects that have been or are currently being carried out by the companies concerned.

The companies identified will be called upon to provide further information and explanations in person through the exercise of powers under Section 66 of the Building Control Act, Chapter 256. Based on the information and evidence obtained, appropriate enforcement action will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the laws in force.

The public, particularly homebuyers, are advised to check the list of legally registered estate agents and valuers on the official website at www.bovea.gov.bn. In addition, the public may visit the ABCi website for a list of companies holding valid builder’s licences.