Ayahanda group with cops involved in violent acts, gangsterism busted

KUALA TERENGGANU: Police have crippled an illegal organisation known as Ayahanda Harimau Kumbang (AHK), believed to have been involved in violent activities and gangsterism and whose members include police personnel.

State police chief Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa said the group was uncovered during a special operation codenamed Op Selendang in Dungun last week, where 21 suspects were arrested.

“Of the suspects that we nabbed during the blitz were police personnel, two officers and 12 from other ranks.

“Investigations revealed they had acted as debt collector agents for ah long (illegal moneylenders) and illegal car towing activities,” he told a press conference at the Terengganu police headquarters here yesterday.

Rohaimi said AHK was believed to have between 200 and 300 members around Dungun and was found to be collecting protection money from its members so that action would not be taken against them should they commit any crime or offence.

“Those arrested were found to be involved in cases related to violence. For instance, they acted as middlemen to collect debts by using violence.

“However, not all of the police personnel arrested were directly involved in criminal acts – but being a member of an illegal organisation is already a crime,” he added.

Rohaimi said following the arrests, 10 police personnel had been suspended and two have been remanded until today.

Two other personnel are waiting for further action from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.

Rohaimi said the arrested police personnel were found to have been involved in this illegal organisation since 2021, but police believe the group had been active much earlier.

“Seven other suspects, including the 39-year-old head of the organisation, have been remanded until Wednesday,” he added.

Police seized eight vehicles, eight weapons and 28 mobile phones, he confirmed.

Several other items were also confiscated, including a copy of the Quran, shroud, shawl used for the swearing of allegiance ceremony, membership cards, vehicle stickers and attire with the organisation’s logo.

Rohaimi said all suspects are being investigated under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966 and Section 7(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958. — Bernama