DPP seeks High Court hearing for Gang 24 case

Heavily guarded: Gang 24 members being escorted by the police to the Sessions Court for their case mention in George Town.

GEORGE TOWN: The prosecution in the case of a Datuk Seri and 21 others charged with being members of the infamous Gang 24 in Penang has requested for the case to be heard at a High Court.

DPP Saiful Edris Zainuddin issued a consent and requisition in the Sessions Court here for the case to be heard in the High Court as it falls under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Businessman Datuk Seri Ng Chian Sia, 55, believed to be the gang’s top boss, and 21 other men were arrested during an operation code named Ops Cantas Mutiara launched on Jan 28 by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department and Penang Criminal Investigations Department.

Also charged are Teh Swee Chin, 31, Bee Hooi Siang, 44, Eee Ching Hock, 44, and Jeremy Cheng Yee Fun, 34, for being members of Gang 24 between Jan 1, 2015, and Jan 29 this year in George Town.

The offence under Section 130V (1) of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of at least five years and not more than 20 years, upon conviction.

The other accused are Mah Chee Seng, 46, Yeong Kah Man, 26, Goh Chun Shien, 36, Ng Ah Boey, 45, Yeoh Choon Hin, 37, Teng Kok How, 26, Lim Leong Huat, 27, Chee Chia Heng, 32, Song Wai Hon, 33, Teoh Jong Yow, 36, Yeoh Choon Hong, 45, Lee Chew Hong, 40, Tan Soo Ching, 36, Teh Hang Beng, 38, Tang Soon Poh, 24, Teoh Chin Yeow, 24 and Teng Kok Loon, 29.

The case falls under the provision of Chapter 6B of the Penal Code, which is tried under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

The case came up for mention at the Sessions Court here yesterday.

When DPP Saiful issued the consent and requisition, Sessions judge Roslan Hamid told the parties that any objections to be raised and applications for bail are to be raised later in the High Court.

The notice for case management at the High Court level will be fixed on another date.

Yesterday, the Sessions court room and hallway were fully occupied by the family members, friends and pressmen.

The 22 accused arrived and left the court in a police truck, heavily escorted.