MANGO THIEVES BEAT UP FARMER
Man suffers RM1,000 in losses as fruits were plucked prematurely
ILI SHAZWANI
AND MUHAMMAD MUSTAKIM RAMLI KANGAR news@nst.com.my
HARUMANIS mango growers are warned to be wary of fruit thieves who are on the prowl here. The price of the popular sweet aromatic mango, which is only available in Perlis for now, could reach up to RM40 per kg, is enticing thieves.
In a recent case, a farmer in Kampung Simpang, Sanglang, was injured and received six stitches on the head after a robbery attempt at his Harumanis farm.
Tarmizi Tafadzol, 38, said the incident took place last week at 4.30pm when his worker informed him that two suspicious men were spotted at his farm.
He dashed from his house to the farm, which was located about 2km away, and saw the suspects there.
“They were trying to flee when I reached there but I managed to stop them at a padi field surrounding the farm and we ended up in scuffle.
“I was hit with a stick and bamboo (stem) on the head and body by the men before they ran away.
“The left behind the two sacks full of Harumanis mangoes they plucked from my farm,” he said yesterday.
Although the suspects failed in their heist, Tarmizi said he suffered losses of about RM1,000 as the 50kg mangoes, which he sold at RM25 per kg, were not ripe and had been plucked prematurely.
Meanwhile, Kangar district police chief Superintendent Wari Kiew said the suspects were from the same village as they were detained along with Tarmizi on the same day of the incident.
“The suspects, aged 21 and 25, were detained at the police station after they came to a lodge report that they had allegedly been assaulted by the Harumanis farmer.
“They are remanded for further investigation under Sections 379 and 324 under the Penal Code for theft and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means,” Wari said.