Gangs recruiting sports schools girls for crime

Thursday March 26, 2009, Thestar

KLUANG: Two out of the 12 suspects arrested after police evacuated 14 residents in Taman Muhibah are Bandar Penawar Sports School students.

The girls, aged 15 and 16, who are athletes, are believed to have been recruited by the gang to commit crimes in Johor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

On Monday, seven suspects involved in multiple robberies and rapes in three states were finally caught after police conducted a thorough search of 14 homes in Taman Muhibah here.
Police also picked up three women aged 18, 19, and 20, who are married to three of the suspects as well as the two minors.

Johor deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Jalaluddin Ab Rahman said the students got to know the gang members and were coaxed into joining them.

“The suspects, who are from Selangor, move from one state to another to conduct robberies and other heinous crimes.
“They are believed to be responsible for more than 22 cases,” he told newsmen here yesterday.
He added that the gang had been active for the past six months.
“The suspects brought along their wives to make it seem they were regular families to avoid suspicion,” he said.

He also commended the public for their tip off which led to the arrest and urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-2212999 or the nearest police station.
In Malacca, police detained two men after car chases at Jalan Tengkera and Jalan Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam (Lorong Pandan) on Tuesday morning.

The men, aged 24 and 27, were caught after their car skidded and crashed into a construction site.

They were unhurt and managed to get out of the car, but were caught by the police later.
State narcotics department head Supt Jaafar Mat said they found a packet of syabu weighing 3.8gm, RM732 and 3,500 Indonesian rupiah.

He said police also seized a car which was reported stolen in Kajang.