11 children arrested after toy gun pic goes viral

KOTA KINABALU: A photo of a Pelahu child “holding up a driver” with a toy gun has resulted in the arrest of 11 children and their four mothers in Sabah’s east coast Lahad Datu.

One of the children was seen in the photo pointing a toy pistol at a driver of a vehicle at the Taman Aman Jaya traffic intersection while begging for money around 10.30am on Wednesday (Feb 19).

Lahad Datu OCPD Asst Comm Nasri Mansor said after the picture went viral on social media, policemen went to the area around 12.30pm and found the group begging.

He said the four Pelahu women aged 24 to 31 and their children – five boys and six girls – aged between six months and 12 years, were detained under the Immigration Act.

The Pelahu are also known locally as “Sea Gypsies”.

ACP Nasir said one of the mothers had bought the toy gun for her son to play with.

“All of them did not have any documents, ” he said, adding that they were living in the Kampung Air area of Lahad Datu.

He said that they were checking with the Immigration Department on the status of those arrested and when they had come into Sabah.

“Our investigations are continuing, ” he added.

Meanwhile, Nasri said police would take action against any policemen involved in handcuffing one of the children and also leaking the pictures that went viral.

He said they were identifying the policemen involved in the matter.