Brother of copper theft suspect detained
LAHAD DATU: Police nabbed another suspect linked to the theft of copper from a project site at POIC in Jalan Tengah Nipah here.
District police chief ACP Hamzah Ahmad in a press conference yesterday said the suspect was detained on June 8 at an unnumbered house in Kampung Keliatan.
Hamzah said the suspect was arrested following the investigation on his brother who was arrested on June 5.
“Investigation on the 33year-old suspect also led to the discovery of a homemade gun (Bakakuk) and two air guns which were hidden in the plantation areas at Kampung Bulus, Batu 8.
“The suspect is believed to have possessed those firearms for illegal poaching activities,” he said, adding that the suspect was now remanded for further investigation.
Hamzah said the copper theft case would be investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code.
He added that the case involving possessing firearms would be probed under Section 8(a) of Firearms Act 1960.
On June 7, police revealed that they had nabbed a local man suspected of involving in stealing copper wires, plates and rods from the project site at POIC.
The suspect’s arrest has led to the seizure of a Bakakuk and two air guns believed used in illegal poaching activities.
The suspect was arrested following a police report lodged by a site supervisor after finding out that the gate to five POIC substations were destroyed and its transformer had been dismantled.
Some copper wires, plates and rods were missing, believed to be stolen. The loss is estimated at RM200,000.