JOHOR BARU: Police arrested 10 suspects in a series of raids involving the case of a man hacked to death in front of a restaurant in Pekan Nanas, Pontian, last month.
Johor acting police chief Dept Comm Hoo Chuan Huat said a team from the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division and Special Investigation Division from the state police contingent headquarters and the Pontian CID arrested the suspects, all locals aged between 18 and 28, in Pontian and Batu Pahat.
“We also seized vehicles, clothes, face masks and weapons used in the incident,” he said in a statement, Bernama reported.
He said six had criminal records and two others were involved in narcotics cases, while a urine test conducted showed one suspect testing positive for benzo-type drugs.
He said six suspects were remanded for 15 days from May 21 which was the day of the incident, one for seven days from May 29, two for seven days from Monday, while another was remanded for seven days from Wednesday under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The investigation papers have been referred to the state Public Prosecutor’s Office and the charges against seven suspects along with five others still at large under Section 302 of the Penal Code were read together with Section 34 for murder.
DCP Hoo said three suspects were released and made prosecution witnesses on bond under Section 118 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“Based on the investigation conducted, we believe the motive of the incident is related to elements of a secret society including recruiting new members,” he said,
He advised the public, especially the young, to be wary and to channel any criminal information to the nearest police station or the Johor police hotline at 019-279 2095 or the operations room line at 07-221 2999.
It was reported that a 22-year-old man was found dead in a pool of blood in front of a restaurant in Pekan Nanas.
The victim, who suffered serious injuries to his hands and feet, was confirmed dead at the scene.
