MELAKA: Police have busted a motorcycle theft syndicate with the arrest of nine Apir Gang members, including the mastermind, believed to be involved in 14 cases around Melaka Tengah district since February.
Melaka Tengah district police chief ACP Afzanizar Ahmad (pix) said that the suspects, comprising eight men and a teenage girl, aged between 14 and 31, were detained separately around Malim, Tengkera and Tiang Dua, between 1 pm and 5.30 pm on April 8.
He said that the 14-year-old teenager was the girlfriend of the 23-year-old gang leader, known as Apir.
“The gang was busted after a police report on the theft of a Yamaha RXZ motorcycle, lodged by a victim from Kampung Lapan, at about 7 am on April 8.
“A team from Malim police station and Melaka Tengah police district headquarters were then mobilised to track down all the suspects during ‘Op Lejang’,” he said at a press conference here today.
He said that Apir, who was unemployed, was the mastermind of the syndicate that targeted motorcycles such as Yamaha LC, RXZ and Honda EXS, around Malim, Tengkera and Batang Tiga areas.
The modus operandi of the gang was to dismantle the components of the stolen motorcycles before selling them to individuals who wanted to buy original spare parts at a cheap price, and the proceeds used to purchase drugs.
He said that police also seized 10 motorcycles, two motorcycle frames and a car believed to have been stolen in March, together worth RM36,000, and the case was being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code.
The eight men tested positive for syabu, he said, adding that all of them have been remanded until tomorrow.
Afzanizar also said that a total of 47 motorcycle theft cases were reported around Melaka Tengah from January to March this year.- Bernama
