Seven-member motorcycle theft gang crippled
Posted on February 3, 2012, Friday
PENAMPANG: Police have crippled a group they believed was involved in nine motorcycle theft cases.
The members of the group, who called themselves ‘AJ Gang’, comprising seven youth, including two students, aged between 14 and 18, were separately detained by police following a motorcycle theft case that took place in Petagas on January 7.
District police chief DSP Ratan Kumar Singh said the first arrest was made on January 7 where a 17-year-old youth was arrested at Taman Limauan in Kinarut, Papar.
“Following the arrest and continuous investigation, police detained another 17-year-old youth who we believed was involved with this group at Taman Friendship on the same day,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Penampang police headquarters here yesterday.
Ratan said the remaining six suspects, including the gang leader, were separately arrested in Kepayan, Penampang, Kinarut and Kudat.
Police also recovered three stolen motorcycles during the whole operation, said Ratan.
According to Ratan, the suspects were using screwdrivers to disconnect the ignition wire before starting the engine.
“Police investigation believed that the stolen motorcycles were for their personal use.
Following the arrests, police believe they had solved nine motorcycle theft cases here as well as in Kota Kinabalu, he said, adding that police were still carrying out investigation to determine if there were others involved with this group.
The suspects have been remanded and will be investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code.
Under the provision, a person can be jailed up to seven years or fined, or both, on conviction.
