GEORGE TOWN: Three people were arrested at Simpang Ampat on suspicion of being involved in a robbery. They included a husband and wife.
Penang deputy police head Deputy Comm Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said the suspects, aged 27 to 52, were apprehended on March 17 and 18 at three different places.
“On February 27, a man who worked at a dates distribution company in South Seberang Perai went to a bank in Simpang Ampat and deposited RM143,941 belonging to the company.
“While he was walking to the bank, a man suddenly came to him and grabbed the bag containing the cash from him before fleeing on a motorbike,” he said during a press briefing at state police headquarters on Friday (22 March).
Following the incident, DCP Mohamed Usuf stated that a team of police from the D9 unit at state police headquarters and the South Seberang Perai Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was dispatched to track down and arrest the culprit.
He stated that police detained a husband and wife aged 36 and 27 in South Seberang Perai, as well as a 52-year-old suspect who worked in the same facility as the victim.
He stated that the 52-year-old guy was apprehended at his home in Sungai Petani after a stockpile of cash was discovered.
According to his findings, two of the individuals have a history of unlawful gambling and drug use.
He stated that during the operation, police seized a car, two motorcycles, three handphones of various brands, helmets, a cash box, and RM71,019 cash.
The defendants were held for seven days commencing March 22 to allow an investigation into robbery under Section 392 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, DCP Mohamed Usuf stated that from January to February 2024, the state CID conducted four operations dubbed as ‘Ops Cantas Mega’ in Penang.
He stated that these actions were intended to target former offenders and those wanted by the police.
“A total of 253 raids have been conducted in Penang, Kedah and Perlis, and from the raids we have arrested 245 suspects,” he told reporters.
He said the suspects comprised 115 local men, 60 local women, and 70 foreign nationals aged 18 to 64.
He stated that the suspects had committed crimes such as human trafficking, robbery, drug addiction, and illicit gambling.
