KUANTAN: Police have dismantled four groups suspected of involvement in robberies and cable thefts targeting the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project and Telekom Malaysia (TM) in Temerloh and Mentakab.
Temerloh District Police Chief ACP Mohd Nasyim Bahron said the operations, conducted between Oct 12 and Monday, resulted in the arrest of 17 local men aged between 20 and 60.
He said two robberies involving ECRL cable storage facilities and five TM cable thefts were reported in Temerloh, Mentakab and Lanchang between September and October, with total losses estimated at RM75,000.
The first group, known as “Geng Ravi”, was dismantled during operations from Oct 12 to 15. Investigations suggest the group was also involved in stealing metal and cables from project sites and abandoned factories since July. Two suspects remain at large.
Police also dismantled “Geng Kepala” on Oct 14. The group is suspected of involvement in several cable thefts targeting Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) storage facilities, factories and roadside locations in Mentakab since August.
In a separate operation, a 28-year-old man believed to be a member of “Geng Dany” was arrested in Mentakab on Monday over suspected TM cable thefts. The group is also believed to have previously operated in Kuala Lumpur.
Mohd Nasyim said the suspect admitted to involvement in several TM cable thefts along roadsides in Mentakab since October, allegedly with another accomplice who remains at large.
Police also dismantled “Geng Mista” in an early Monday operation. The group is suspected of stealing TM cables from manholes and roadside utility poles in Temerloh, Mentakab, Jerantut and Maran since July.
The group’s leader was identified as also being a member of “Geng Kepala”, whose members were arrested on Oct 14. Another suspect remains at large.
Police seized several vehicles, including a lorry, cable coils and cut sections belonging to ECRL, TNB and TM, metal pole sections, as well as equipment believed to have been used to steal and process cables.
All suspects were detained to assist investigations under Sections 395, 379 and 431A of the Penal Code, as well as Section 235(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
-AWANI
