Give evidence to put them away, says Sibu police chief

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SIBU: A group of 11 youths fighting for control of illegal rubber tapping in Durin when arrested on Christmas Day might be thrown out of Sarawak if the police can get evidence from the public on their activities.

Revealing this yesterday, Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail said although the 11 (including seven teenagers) were released unconditionally yesterday after their remand ran out, police are still pursuing the case.

He said they are still collecting evidence, and any member of the public with information should come forward to help.

“Armed with such evidence, we can open files under the Emergency Ordinance,” Shafie explained.

He said the ordinance empowered them to detain the youths for 60 days before an order from the Home Ministry to kick them out.

Normally, suchDetention Centre or in restricted residence for up to two years.

The police chief vowed they would never allow the seed of gangsterism to germinate in Sibu after having worked so hard in ‘Ops Cantas’ to kick out many gangsters in the past  two years. They kicked out another 10 last year.

For the files to be opened under the Emergency Ordinance, there must be direct evidence provided by public members against the criminals, Shafie said.

Seven are teenagers while the rest in their early 20s.

Although so young, the police chief said they had a record of drug addiction.

Acting police chief at that time, Supt Zamani Hamdan described the group as having a ‘Tai Koh’ or Big Brother, but the gang members dispersed after he was arrested. The new group was trying to rise, headed by two leaders.

They were negotiating for control on Christmas Day when a fight broke out over some disagreements.