Temerloh: Police arrested eight male gang members belonging to the 'Geng Musang' and 'Geng Jep Gambang' who are believed to be involved in stealing and purchasing East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project cables, which resulted in estimated losses of over RM825,000.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman stated that all the suspects were apprehended in several raids conducted in Temerloh, Kuantan, and Bentong between September 10 and 14. The suspects, aged between 29 and 45 years old, include six individuals believed to have stolen the national project's cables and two who were allegedly workers and owners of a scrap metal shop involved in purchasing the components.
Yahaya noted that some of the suspects have prior criminal and drug offence records, with five individuals testing positive for methamphetamine. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Lanchang police station, which was also attended by Pahang Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Othman.
During the raids, authorities seized project components estimated to weigh nearly one tonne and stretch almost five kilometres, including several spools of copper cables and 18 cut cables. The cables were discovered in a scrap metal shop in Kuala Lumpur, as well as behind a house and in a forest area in Temerloh. Investigations revealed that the cables were sold for over RM25 per kilogramme.
The police are currently pursuing three additional suspects, including two Cambodian nationals from Geng Musang and one local individual from Geng Jep Gambang, to aid in the investigation. Yahaya urged the public to provide any information and contact the nearest police station if they detect any of the suspects.
The six apprehended suspects are being investigated under Section 379 and Section 431A of the Penal Code, while the other two are being investigated under Section 411 of the Penal Code. Furthermore, Yahaya mentioned that his team had requested ECRL to enhance security measures along the 258-kilometre project section, which includes the construction of seven stations in Pahang.
Recently, China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCCECRL) reported that 1,080 meters of cables along the Temerloh and Lanchang sections and 599 meters along the Lanchang and Bentong sections were stolen within two weeks, potentially impacting the national project's completion schedule.