BUTTERWORTH: Eight people have been charged in the Sessions Court here with being members of the organised crime group known as Geng Adik Labu Besar.
No pleas were recorded from the accused – six men and two women – after the charges were read out before judge Roslan Hamid on Tuesday (March 10), as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
The accused are Nur Alya Nadhira Che Hassan, 22, Nurul Natasha Mohammad Shukri, 23, Muhamad Samerin Shahrom, 35, Mohamed Aizat Rosmadi, 28, Aizal Abu Bakar, 23, Mohammad Zaini Yusoff, 27, Muhammad Azizi Abd Ghafar, 22 and Muhamad Fitri Abdul Karim, 31.
All are alleged to have been members of Geng Adik Labu Besar between March and Oct 16 last year at Vista Perdana, Jalan Kampung Gajah, Butterworth.
Defence counsel Manjit Singh Mann appeared for Nurul Natasha, while the remaining seven accused were unrepresented.
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V. Suloshani and Maryam Jamielah Ab Manaf prosecuted.
During the proceedings, Suloshani did not offer bail to any of the accused as the case falls under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma, which is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
She said the case must first be transferred to the High Court before bail can be considered for all the accused.
However, Manjit applied for bail to be set for his client.
Roslan subsequently ruled that bail could not be granted to any of the accused, as such applications can only be made at the High Court.
"Regarding bail, this court cannot allow it.
"If there is any application (for bail), it can be made at the High Court later," he said.
Roslan fixed May 4 for mention and the submission of documents.
It was reported that a burglary gang responsible for at least 42 cases involving losses of nearly RM1mil was dismantled by police in a special operation by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in collaboration with Penang police on Feb 15.
Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk M Kumar had said that the operation targeted a criminal group actively involved in property crime, particularly house break-ins, around Penang.
The group is believed to have been active from 2024 until October last year.
All those arrested have criminal records, including for armed robbery, housebreaking, theft from buildings, vehicle theft, causing injuries, mischief, possession and disposal of stolen goods, as well as drug abuse.
