GEORGE TOWN: Police are investigating the possible involvement of triads in recent cases of bullying at two schools in Butterworth and Balik Pulau.
Penang police chief Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said if gangs are found to be involved, police would act against them.
“Arrests have been made and they were later released on police bond.
“We are still investigating into the possibility of ‘kongsi gelap’ (organised crime gangs) being behind these cases,” he told reporters at the state contingent police headquarters yesterday.
On May 19, police detained nine teenagers aged between 14 and 16 in Butterworth in connection with two separate fighting incidents that took place in a secondary school.
Eight suspects were students of the school while another was a dropout.
On that day in Balik Pulau, five 17-year-old Form Five students from a boarding school were arrested for allegedly bullying a 15-year-old Form Three student at about 11pm at the school toilet.
It is learnt that the victim had been scolded and hit by the suspects for being late for morning prayers.
Both cases were investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.
On a separate case, Khaw said a 36-year-old man who allegedly splashed paint and acid at 10 used car dealerships here had confessed to the crimes.
Khaw said four other suspects were also arrested as they were believed to be accomplices who helped acquire smartphone SIM cards or motorcycles for the man.
“The main suspect has a past criminal record.
“We believe that they were blackmailing the used car dealers in connection to debts owed to loan sharks,” he added.
He also announced that Penang’s crime index this year dropped by about 10% compared to last year.
“A total of 1,086 crime cases were recorded between January and April, compared with 1,211 cases in the same period last year, a decrease of 125 cases or 10.2%,” he added.
