Chandra (second right) showing a samurai sword and other items that were seized from the suspects.
KOTA KINABALU: Five people, including a woman, were arrested by police for their involvement in one robbery and three house-breaking cases within this month.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra said the suspects, who called themselves ‘Gang Yuyu’, were arrested on Wednesday (May 25) following a robbery case at Taman Teluk Likas on May 24, whereby a man lost his Hyundai Atos car after he was robbed by two unidentified men in a Perodua Kancil car.
“On the day of the incident, two of the suspects approached the victim, who was sitting in his Hyundai Atos car with a female companion around 1am on May 24.
“One of the suspects approached the driver and pointed a machete at the victim’s neck while the accomplice threatened the female companion with a knife.
“The suspects then fled the scene with the victim’s vehicle after leaving the woman with minor cuts on her arm.
“Following the incident a police report was lodged by the victim after which police immediately set up a task force to track down the suspects that led to the arrests of five individuals at Taman Putera Jaya in Telipok around 2.15am on May 25,” he told a press conference at the city police headquarters in Karamunsing here yesterday.
Among those arrested were the 36-year-old mastermind, two men aged 26 and 36, and a woman, aged 29, who were all arrested at Taman Putera Jaya in Telipok, said Chandra.
The fifth suspect, a 50-year-old man, was apprehended about two hours later at Beverlly Hill in Penampang.
Almost all the suspects tested positive for drug abuse while each suspect had at least two criminal records including drug offences, he said.
“Police investigation also revealed that the suspects, who have been active since 2014, were involved in four criminal cases, that is one robbery case and three house-breaking cases, all within this month.
“The suspects’ modus operandi was to break into a house and after helping themselves with valuable items they will also steal vehicles which include luxury vehicles,” said Chandra.
Following the arrests, he said the police had seized about RM60,000 worth of stolen items such as LCD televisions, cellphones, computer, computer tablet, false car plate numbers, weapons and items used in their burglary activities.
Police have also recovered the stolen Hyundai Atos car that was left abandoned at Taman Putera Jaya, the Perodua Kancil car used by the suspects and a Yamaha motorcycle.
The police are currently looking for two other gang members associated with the suspects.
“One of the suspects has been identified as Faizal @ Nges, aged 30, whose last address is in Likas.
“Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the suspect should contact the nearest police station immediately or Sergeant Mohamed Zaidi Mohd Nor at 016-819 7452,” said Chandra.
The suspects are currently being detained to faciliate investigation under Section 395/397 and Section 457 of the Penal Code for gang-robbery and house-breaking respectively, and under Section 15 (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug abuse.