Friday December 15, 2006
Rempit gang on crime spree
By BERNARD SEE
PENANG: The gang rape of a 13-year-old girl and two robberies reported in Bukit Mertajam on Sunday morning are believed to have been committed by members of the same Mat Rempit gang.
State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Koh Hong Sun said the incidents occurred within an hour of the George Town police chasing away 600 motorcyclists who had gathered in Gurney Drive.
“Some of them could have separated from the main group and embarked on a crime spree. Other than the three cases, they also smashed a car windscreen and sprayed foam from a fire extinguisher into the vehicle,” he said yesterday.
“We have not ruled out the possibility that the group could also be behind the stoning and throwing of firecrackers into a police station in Kubang Semang on Oct 15.
“Our investigations showed that most of the gang members are aged between 15 and 18. They are students with spare time on their hands owing to the school holidays.”
Bukit Mertajam OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Anil Shah said about 60 youths were involved in the crime spree, and that five of them had been arrested in connection with the gang rape.
“Five more people will be picked up soon. The five motorcycles belonging to them were recovered at the Mengkuang Dam.”
DCP Koh added that to prevent the Mat Rempit from becoming a problem, all districts have been instructed to hold daily operations at their hangouts.
“The Bayan Lepas Expressway, Jelutong Expressway, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Tanjong Tokong and Butterworth-Kulim Expressway are being turned into racing circuits on weekends,” he noted.
“Our operations, which will also involve the Road Transport Department and the National Drug Agency, will be concentrated in these areas.”
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said five youths in their early 20s, were arrested in Jalan Tengku Kudin yesterday after they tested positive for drugs during an anti-Mat Rempit operation.
“The public can help us by calling our 24-hour Rakan COP hotline (04-2691999) whenever they see or hear these illegal racers and we will despatch a police patrol car to the scene in 15 minutes,” he said.
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