14 suspected secret society members held

KOTA KINABALU: Fourteen people believed to be members of a secret society allegedly linked to the notorious Double Seven gang, have been detained.

The suspects, aged 22 to 49, including its ringleader, were apprehended at Inanam Point on Jalan Tuaran near here during “Ops Cantas” at 10.10pm on Wednesday.

Sabah Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Azmi Abd Rahim said the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies (D7) Division nabbed the suspects with the help of police from the Inanam station.

“The group had elements of the Double Seven gang, which was listed as an illegal society in 2013,” he said on Saturday.

Azmi said a toy gun imitating a C15 pistol, a meat cleaver and a samurai sword were seized in the operation.

“We also seized 20 stickers bearing the group’s logo, membership cards, mobile phones and four vehicles,” he added.

Azmi said initial investigation revealed the group is believed to have some 100 members in Sabah.

He said the suspects and seized items were taken to the city police station for further investigations under the Societies Act 1966.

Meanwhile, four people, including a woman and a teenager, were arrested for stealing motorcycles.

The woman and teenage boy were believed to be involved in a motorcycle theft case from 11 years ago.

Azmi said the 19-year-old boy and the woman, 46, were picked up separately in Taman Kemajuan Likas on Friday.

“We seized a motorcycle from the boy which was reported missing in 2013,” he said.

They later picked up the woman at 7.45pm the same day for selling the allegedly stolen motorcycle to the boy.

Meanwhile, Azmi also said that they detained two former convicts, aged 25 and 26, in a raid at Kampung Kemajuan Likas on the same day.

They also seized a motorcycle from the two men, which was reported missing in Keningau on May 1.

Initial investigation showed that both suspects had previous criminal records, including drugrelated offences.

“The case is investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for theft,” said Azmi.