Cops bust begging syndicate involving senior citizens, children

SHAH ALAM: Police arrested 52 suspects and rescued 56 victims after busting a begging syndicate that used senior citizens and children as beggars.
The rackets, police learnt was run by both locals and foreigners.
Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor (pix) said police conducted 24 raids under operation codenamed Ops Ehsan in the state to clamp down on the problem.
"The syndicate can be termed as 'unhealthy'. These syndicates use senior citizens and children to beg under the pretext of collecting donations for welfare homes and religious causes.
"Police do not care if they have documents as some of the groups have tried to show they are legit. They show documents to our officers.The activities are against the law," Mazlan told reporters after attending the Selangor police contingent monthly assembly here today.
Mazlan revealed the suspects would drop the so called beggars in the morning to beg and pick them up in the evening.
"Some 40 suspects were foreigners and some of the detainees were drivers who will transport these beggars," he added.
Police have also charged 14 begging syndicate cases in court for offences under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Immigration Act.
Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Mazlan said police so far have detained six suspects under Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) in their effort to weed out illegal gambling in the state.
"All together, about 372 individuals detained under Poca for various offences.
"For serious crime, about 173 suspects, for property crime 142 suspects, for underworld gang involvement 48 suspects, illegal gambling six suspects and for other cases three suspects," he added.
He added the number of individuals probed under Poca recorded an increase of 110 individuals over the year.