Twenty-two members of Geng 24 to be charged tomorrow

GEORGE TOWN: Twenty-two members of the notorious Geng 24 are to be charged at the Sessions Court tomorrow.
Penang police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye the individuals aged between 24 and 55, who were detained on Jan 28 during raids conducted by CID officers from Bukit Aman and the state police, will be charged under Section 130v of the Penal Code.
He said the operation codenamed "Ops Cantas Mutiara" was launched under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 to curb gang activities in Penang.
Those convicted for the offence of being a "member of an organised criminal group" are liable to jail term of five to 20 years.
Geng 24 was previously headed by a 37-year-old businessman who went by the moniker "Datuk M". He was shot dead in Penang by his own bodyguard on Dec 1 last year.
The bodyguard, Ja'afar Halid, 38, has since been charged with the murder of three persons, attempted murder of five others and voluntarily causing hurt to another individual.
Police on Feb 3 reportedly detained four persons with the title "Datuk" who were among 38 secret society members in the Klang Valley under "Ops Cantas Khas".
Those detained were aged between 19 and 62 years and were members of Geng 360 Devan while a similar crackdown in Penang and Genting Highlands saw 22 members of Geng 24 detained.
Also detained during the operation were 13 from Geng 04 Paper Kumar in Penang who were involved in a murder case; 10 from Geng 21 Jaban, including a "Datuk" in Johor responsible for two attempted murders and a kidnapping and 10 from Gang Latin Dago in the Klang Valley who were responsible for house break-ins and robberies.
Police also detained 11 from Geng William in Pahang who were involved in kidnappings; and 10 from Geng 04 Sungai Siput who specialised as hired killers.