JOHOR BARU: Police are probing a possible link between two secret societies following the death of a 17-year-old girl who was hit by a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the case, which occurred at Lingkaran Bulatan Persiaran Indahpura 4 in Kulai at 12.38am on Tuesday, is now being investigated as murder following the arrest of 13 suspects, including a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
He said the victim and her four friends were in a hatchback vehicle on their way home after a night out when several vehicles started trailing them.
“One of the vehicles, believed to be the MPV, hit the hatchback, causing the victim, seated in the front passenger seat, to be thrown out of the car.
“She died on the spot while the suspects fled the scene. The case was initially classified as a traffic accident,” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters yesterday.
Comm Ab Rahaman said police subsequently arrested 12 males and one female aged 15 to 31 in various locations in Johor Baru and Selangor.
He added that the suspects, including those who were in the same car as the victim, were being remanded for two to seven days to assist investigations. Nine of them have criminal records.
“We reclassified the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder because the suspects’ statements indicated that the victim was later run over by the MPV after she was thrown out of the car.
“We suspect the incident is linked to conflict between two secret societies, but the motive is still under investigation,” he said, adding that police also seized an MPV, a car, a pick-up truck, a baseball bat and a black baton.
He said efforts are ongoing to identify whether other suspects and vehicles were involved in the incident.
The case is also being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for the possession of weapons in a riot and Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless and dangerous driving.
