Police in Johor Baru have arrested 18 individuals, including nine foreigners, who were involved in stealing copper telecommunications cables valued at RM800,000. The group, known as Geng Kabel Mat Lee, has been carrying out these thefts since May of this year, according to Johor police chief, Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat. The first arrests were made on July 18 when a police team intercepted a lorry between 3am and 6am in the Seri Alam District. Thirteen suspects were apprehended during this operation, including nine foreign men aged between 25 and 47. The police also arrested a man believed to own a scrap metal shop who they suspect purchased the stolen cables from the group. Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat explained that the group would pose as cable repair workers as a cover while stealing the cables.
The group targeted isolated areas and would dig up buried cables. “They have the complete set of tools to pretend to be doing repairs, including ‘road closed’ signs and blinking lights,” he said during a press conference at the Johor police headquarters on July 24. Five additional men between the ages of 24 and 42, all owners of scrap metal shops, were subsequently arrested in a follow-up investigation. Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat stated that these individuals were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for possessing the telecommunications cables. The stolen copper cable was sold for RM35 per kilogram.
Furthermore, the police suspect that some members of the group had prior experience working with cables, based on their expertise in stealing them. All suspects are currently under remand until July 25. The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
