There’s a need to invoke preventive laws, says Selangor CID chief

damaged public property in pursuit of their outnumbered rivals in the incident at 8pm on Dec 31.

R. Vasagam, a father of five children who lived nearby, died of multiple slash wounds after being set upon when he tried to stop the fight.

Revenge to settle an old score arising from trivial issues such as staring matches and revving motorcycle engines almost a year ago was believed to have led to the fight.

Sepang police arrested 18 suspects, including three siblings who are currently in police custody for investigations.

On Tuesday, in Jeram, Kuala Selangor, a 27-year-old lorry driver who was having dinner with four friends died two hours after he was set upon by four parang-wielding men.

The victim’s friends fled on seeing the attackers, who arrived in a car.

Selangor CID chief SAC Fadzil Ahmat (pix) said the suspects in the Sungei Pelek case are expected to be charged for a string of crimes including murder, causing hurt, rioting and possession of dangerous weapons.

Police are aware of the growing number of crime cases involving underworld gangs in the state, he said, adding that initiatives to counter the menace are in place.

“Apart from ongoing operations, other special tasks to counter underworld activities are in the works. Preventive laws will be used on those held if there is lack of evidence in charging them in court for their crimes.

“Last year, over 400 suspected members of underworld gangs were detained under Poca (Prevention of Law Act), almost twice as many we detained under the Act in 2016,” he told theSun.

Fadzil said there is a need to invoke preventive laws on these individuals as there is high probability of them returning to their old ways after being freed from remand.