TEMERLOH, Sept 17 — The police have arrested eight men belonging to 'Geng Musang' and 'Geng Jep Gambang' who are believed to be involved in stealing and purchasing East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project cables, which resulted in over RM825,000 in estimated losses.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said all of them were arrested in several raids in Temerloh, Kuantan, and Bentong between Wednesday (September 10) and Sunday (September 14).
Of the suspects, aged between 29 and 45, six are believed to be involved in stealing the national project's cables, while the other two were believed to be workers and owners of a scrap metal shop who purchased the components.
“There are suspects who have previous criminal and drug offence records, while five people tested positive for methamphetamine," he said during a press conference at the Lanchang police station today, which was also attended by Pahang Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Othman.
Yahaya added that the authorities seized project components estimated to weigh close to one tonne and to be almost five kilometres long, including several spools of copper cables and 18 cut cables.
All the cables concerned were found in a scrap metal shop in Kuala Lumpur, as well as behind a house and in a forest area in Temerloh. Based on investigations, the cables were sold for over RM25 per kg.
He said that the police are still pursuing three men, including two Cambodians from Geng Musang, and one local man from the Geng Jep Gambang, to assist with the investigation.
"Police are seeking the public’s cooperation to channel any information to them and contact the nearest police station if they know or detect any of the suspects," Yahaya said.
The six suspects were arrested to assist in the investigation under Section 379 of the Penal Code and Section 431A of the Penal Code, while two others are being investigated under Section 411 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Yahaya said they have asked ECRL to increase security control along the 258-km project section, which involves constructing seven stations in Pahang.
Recently, China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCCECRL) announced that 1,080m of cables along the Temerloh and Lanchang sections and 599m along the Lanchang and Bentong sections were stolen within just two weeks, potentially affecting the project's completion schedule.
