Badar squad founder thought he was doing everyone a favour by conducting anti-vice raids. The authorities didn’t think so.
Group allegedly held illegal anti-vice raids
SUNGAI PETANI: Founder of anti-vice Badar squad, Azhar Mohamad, was arrested after a Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department officer lodged a report against the vigilante group.
Azhar, 46, was picked up by police at around 9pm on Sunday at the squad’s office.
He has been remanded for four days to assist investigations under the Official Secrets Act and the Societies Act.
Kedah CID chief Senior Asst Comm Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said another group member, in his 30s, was also arrested.
The vigilante squad had allegedly conducted enforcement activities without permission from the department.
The squad also did not have any search warrant to enter premises to conduct checks.
The controversial Badar squad members had been carrying out raids on budget hotels in Sungai Petani for the last two years.
Those caught committing khalwat were taken to a cemetery, where they were given counselling.
Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul had reportedly hit out at the squad, saying the counselling carried out at the cemetery was excessive.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa had also said those who took the law into their own hands in the name of Islam only tarnished their good deeds and intentions.