12 detained following break-in of handphone shop in Papar
PAPAR: Twelve people were detained by police after a shop here was broken into and lost 38 handphones and tablets worth RM20,000.
District police chief DSP Ladamah Sulaiman said of the 12 suspects, five were directly involved in the break-in on July 18, while the remaining seven were held for questioning for keeping or possessing stolen items.
Ladamah said the shop was broken into between midnight and 8.30am on July 18 and it was discovered by the owner when he opened for business.
“Among the items stolen from the premises were 16 Vivo handphones, one Samsung handphone, one Sony handphone, four Lenovo tablets, 10 Kelaida handphones and six Oppo handphones.
“Based on the CCTV footage, police managed to identify eight suspects who were involved in the break-in and following continuous investigation managed to arrest five of the suspects while three of them are still at large,” he said at a press conference at the Papar police headquarters yesterday.
Following the arrest of the suspects, police arrested seven people who had bought and in possession of the stolen items.
“Police only managed to recover 17 of the stolen items and the case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for house-breaking,” said Ladamah.
He urged anyone who have either bought cheap handphones or believe the handphone they bought may be stolen item to immediately come forward to the nearest police station.
Police also detained a foreign youth, believed to be a drug pusher, at a Futsal centre at Jalan Baru, Kampung Suangon in Kinarut here last Friday.
Ladamah said the 18-year-old suspect was nabbed by police from the Papar narcotic division following a tip-off of a drug activity at the area around 8.45pm on August 11.
“As police introduced themselves, the suspect fled the scene on his motorcycle but police managed to detain him not far from the area.
“Police found a black plastic bag containing four smaller plastic packets that contained crystal-like substance believed to be syabu hidden underneath the motorcycle seat compartment.
“Initial police investigation believed the drugs weighed 200.12 grams with a market value at RM16,800,” he said at a press conference at the Papar police headquarters here yesterday.
Preliminary urine test of the suspect came back negative of drug abuse, said Ladamah, adding that the suspect had been held for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking.
Ladamah thanked the public for providing information to the police which led to the arrest of the suspect.
He welcomed public cooperation in fighting drug activities near and around the district.