JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested 10 local men in a series of raids linked to the case of a man who was hacked to death in front of a restaurant in Pekan Nanas, Pontian on May 21.
Johor acting police chief Deputy Comm Hoo Chuan Huat (pic) said a police team from the Johor contingent's Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) and the Special Investigation Division (D9), together with the Criminal Investigation Division of Pontian district police headquarters, arrested the men, aged 18 to 28, around Pontian and Batu Pahat from May 21 to Tuesday (June 2).
"We also seized vehicles, clothes, face masks and weapons believed to have been used in the incident," he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 3) night.
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DCP Hoo said checks found that six suspects had criminal offences on their records while two others had both criminal and drug offences.
One suspect tested positive for benzo-type drugs at the time of his arrest, he added.
He said six suspects were remanded for 15 days from May 21, one was remanded for seven days from May 29, two were remanded for seven days from Monday (June 1), while another was remanded for seven days from Wednesday, all under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
The investigation papers were then referred to the state prosecutor's office and charges will be filed against seven suspects, along with five others still at large, under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, read together with Section 34 which covers joint criminal liability.
According to DCP Hoo, three suspects were released and made prosecution witnesses on bond under Section 118 of the CPC.
"Based on our investigation, we believe the motive for the incident is related to secret society elements, including recruiting new members," he said.
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He advised the public, especially young people, not to get caught up in secret societies and to channel any information on criminal activities to the nearest police station as well as the state police hotline at 019-2792095 or the contingent operations room at 07-2212999.
It was reported that a 22-year-old local man was found dead in a pool of blood in front of a restaurant in Pekan Nanas, Pontian.
The victim, who suffered serious injuries to his hands and feet, was confirmed dead at the scene and an investigation was opened under Section 302 of the Penal Code. – Bernama
