Eight house break-ins solved with suspect's arrest in Semporna

KOTA KINABALU: A 30-year-old man has been detained on Wednesday (July 19) by Semporna police over burglary cases in the district.

The arrest was made by the district police criminal investigation division at 11pm at Dataran Lepa following a tip-off.

With the arrest of the suspect, Semporna police believe they have solved at least eight house break-in cases in the district, said OCPD Supt Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah on Friday (July 21).

A motorcycle with a fake number plate, a blade, a pair of scissors, one sling bag, two leather wallets, two identity cards and five ATM bank cards belonging to others, three mobile phones, eight receipts from pawn shops for jewellery and mobile phones, as well as a watch were seized.

Police earlier received a report on Tuesday (July 18) at 7.30am from a 66-year-old local man who said his house at Kampung Bubul was broken into.

The victim claimed to have lost a mobile phone, a gold ring, personal documents and cash, with losses amounting to RM2,000.

After the arrest on Wednesday, police made further inspection at the suspect’s house at Kampung Bubul where they found two fanny packs, two tablet computers and two mobile phones.

“At around 2pm on Thursday (July 20), the suspect guided the police to several pawn shops in the district, where the team seized a gold ring and a watch believed to have been stolen,” said Supt Mohd Farhan.

The suspect also tested positive for drugs and the case will be investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code (for house breaking to commit an offence), which carries maximum imprisonment of 14 years and a fine or whipped for subsequent offences.

Investigation will also be done under section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 (for carrying offensive weapons in public), which carries a jail term of not less than five years and not more than 10.

The suspect will also be investigated under the National Registration Regulations and the Dangerous Drugs Act, he added.