4 Suspects in Robbery Targeting Rohingya Ethnic Group Nabbed by Police
JITRA: Police have arrested four men suspected of being involved in an unarmed gang robbery targeting foreigners, in separate raids in Perak, Kedah and Perlis.
Kubang Pasu District Police Chief, Superintendent Mohd Radzi Abd Rahim, said police received information from a Rohingya ethnic man at 1.30 am on 17 August, who claimed to have been robbed by three unidentified men.
He said that during the incident, the 28‑year‑old victim was at his home in Kampung Kodiang Lama, near here, when three men dressed in dark clothing, wearing masks and gloves, knocked on the door and entered the house.
“The three suspects then attacked and threatened the complainant using an object believed to be a knife, pointing it at the complainant’s body and neck.
“The suspects also ordered the complainant to hand over valuables such as two necklaces, a gold ring, a pendant and a pair of earrings, as well as two mobile phones and money containing United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards.
“As a result of the incident, the complainant sustained injuries to his right hand, right leg and a wound on his stomach,” he said at a press conference at the Kubang Pasu District Police Headquarters (IPD) here today.
Following that, Mohd Radzi said a team of officers and personnel from the Kubang Pasu IPD Criminal Investigation Division and the Kedah State Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department conducted intelligence and launched an operation to trace the involved suspects.
He said all suspects were arrested at three separate locations, namely in Ipoh, Perak; Kodiang in Kedah; and Kangar in Perlis.
“In addition, police also seized items used in the robbery, including four mobile phones, a cross‑body bag, two UNHCR cards, a pawnshop receipt, two jackets, three shirts, and a folding knife as well as a small wooden‑handled knife with a sheath.
“Further investigation into the suspects found that they were targeting foreigners living in the Kodiang area.
“This is because foreigners rarely lodge police reports, fearing that they would supposedly face action on security grounds.
“The suspects would go to the houses wearing face coverings and armed with knives to commit robberies,” he said.
Mohd Radzi said interrogation of the suspects revealed that they are believed to have been involved in 13 robbery cases in the Kodiang area, but only one or two police reports have been received so far.
“All the suspects, aged between 22 and 37, have been remanded until this Thursday for further investigation.
“The police will not compromise and will act fairly and justly against every individual in this country, regardless of whether they are locals or foreigners.
“Do not make foreigners a ‘soft target’. Anyone who commits crimes against them will face the same action as offences against local citizens.”
He said the investigation is being conducted under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code, which covers gang robbery and robbery with weapons, and upon conviction, offenders can be imprisoned for up to 20 years and liable to whipping.
Berita Harian