KOTA KINABALU: A 10-year-old boy was among four people believed to be the culprits behind a string of mugging cases, including one involving a Chinese tourist.
A team from the state Criminal Investigation Department’s Special Investigation Unit (D9) arrested the boy and three men aged between 24 and 28 in raids at Jalan Segama and Jalan Tugu Kampung Air last week.
Sabah Police Commissioner Comm Datuk Jauteh Dikun said police believed they had solved a slew of robbery cases at tourist locations in the city with the arrest of the suspects, who were foreigners.
Armed to the teeth: Among the items recovered from the suspects.
“None of them had any valid documents on them,” he said when contacted.
Comm Jauteh said police were alerted to a Chinese national being robbed by two men at Jalan Gaya on Dec 30, with the victim losing cash and other valuables to the robbers.
Following tip-offs, he said, the D9 policemen managed to arrest the first two suspects at Jalan Segama on Saturday.
“We recovered some items from their mugging activities and seized two knives, a screwdriver and a hammer,” said Comm Jauteh.
Based on new leads, he said, police caught the boy and the remaining suspect at 5.20pm on Sunday,” he added.
Police are investigating the case under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for gang and armed robbery, respectively, which provides for up to 20 years in jail and a fine as well as caning upon conviction.
On concerns that muggings were taking place at tourist attractions, Comm Jauteh said police had stepped up crime prevention operations as well as efforts to catch robbery suspects.
“The integrated operation will be continuous, involving officers and personnel from various units at hotspots in the city, particularly in areas frequented by tourists.
“This includes doing walkabouts that are aimed at fostering closer relations with the community as well as showing police presence,” he said.
