KUALA TERENGGANU: Police have successfully dismantled the Baim Gang, which had been actively stealing telecommunications cables in Terengganu for seven months, following the arrest of one member while three others remain at large.
Terengganu police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairudin reported that the 42-year-old male suspect was apprehended at approximately 5.40am on Friday (Oct 25) during Op Lusuh on Jalan Durian Mentangau-Citrus in Dungun.
He explained that police personnel conducting operations encountered the suspect and three other gang members acting suspiciously in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
"Police discovered that the trunk of the vehicle, which had a fake registration number, was filled with black objects believed to be cut cables.
"When they noticed the police presence, the suspects sped off and entered a road near a forest. They then abruptly stopped the vehicle before all four fled into the forest," he stated during a press conference after disposing of the Criminal Investigation Department’s case goods at the Terengganu Police Contingent Headquarters on Monday (Oct 28).
Mohd Khairi revealed that preliminary investigations showed the arrested suspect, a labourer with a criminal record involving seven prior criminal and 14 drug offences, tested positive for methamphetamine.
"Three other suspects, aged between 29 and 35 years old, have been identified and are believed to be in Dungun. This gang is thought to have been active since April," he said.
The arrested suspect has been remanded for four days starting Saturday (Oct 26), and the case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code.
In a related update, Mohd Khairi noted that 1,272 criminal cases were recorded from January to September this year, a 24.6% increase from 1,021 cases during the same period in 2023.
"We have resolved 974 cases, achieving a 76.57% clearance rate, surpassing the Key Performance Indicator set by Bukit Aman," he added. – Bernama
