SEREMBAN: Police have crippled a violent organised criminal group known as 'Geng Kabali' after arresting 19 of its members, including its leader in an operation carried out in November and December last year.
Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department (JSJ) director Datuk Huzir Mohamed said the group comprised 27 members aged between 18 and 50 years old, and are believed to be responsible for robbing money changers and homes in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
He noted that 65 cases were recorded over last year, with 50 cases in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur while the other 15 were in Negri Sembilan.
"Of these, investigations found that they have been involved in 23 serious crime cases over last year with an estimated loss of almost RM1 million," he told a media conference at the Negri Sembilan Police Contingent Headquarters here today.
Also present was Negri Sembilan Police Chief Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop.
The operation, ‘Ops Kelawar’ was launched as a joint operation comprising a team of members from the Bukit Aman D8 Technical Unit, Unit D9, Organised Crime Investigations Division D14, and the Criminal Investigation Departments (JSJ) of Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, he said.
He said the operation was carried out at night as the group was usually active from 8.30 pm to early morning.
Describing the group as violent, Huzir said the gang was led by a man known as Kabali, 32, who was also detained in the operation. The group was formed after its members crossed paths during imprisonment.
"Most of them have been in prison for robbery, murder or intimidation, and from here, the group members got to know each other. They formed a group led by a man called Kabali who was the mastermind in the robbery cases around Port Dickson and Seremban.
"We are also looking for another mastermind who planned the robberies in the Klang Valley, known as Vicky and also five other identified suspects, while two more are still being identified," he said, adding that the group have been active in crime since 2017.
In the meantime, he said the Attorney General's Office had also agreed to charge all 19 detainees under Section V1B of Section 130V of the Penal Code for being members of organised crime groups by using investigative and prosecution procedures under the Security Offences (Special Prevention Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) at the Seremban Sessions Court tomorrow.
"We believe that with them being prosecuted in court tomorrow, house robberies around Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, will be controlled. We found that when we detained them for more than 28 days, domestic crime cases had decreased," he said.
Huzir said police would also take action on the group member's assets and financial under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001 (Amla). — Bernama
