KUCHING: A total of 23 individuals, aged between 18 and 44, were charged at the Sessions Court here today for their alleged involvement in an organised criminal group between December 2021 and April this year.
No plea was taken when the charges were read to all of the accused before judges, Iris Awen Jon, Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar and Musli Ab Hamid.
Bail was not offered as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court pursuant to offences under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA). The charges were read separately to each of the accused.
Following this, the prosecution applied for a a new date for the case to be transferred to the High Court.
They were charged under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code (Act 574), which provides for imprisonment of not less than five years and up to 20 years upon conviction.
The accused are alleged to have committed the offence at an oil palm plantation in Kampung Temaga Cina/Dayak, Sematan, where they were said to be members of an organised criminal group known as ‘Geng 24 Hung-Hung’.
The court fixed June 22 for further mention pending the transfer of the case to the High Court.
All accused have been remanded at Puncak Borneo Prison in the meantime.
The prosecution was conducted separately by Deputy Public Prosecutors, Shafiq Hasim and Maryam Jamielah Ab Manaff.
A total of 22 accused are represented by counsels, Hani Iryani Bonny, Patrick Voon, Ralph Lee, Daniel Ling and Datuk Shankar Ram, while one accused remains unrepresented.
The case is being investigated by investigating officer, ASP Mohd Irwan Ismail, assisted by Insp. Siti Radhiah Abdul Rahman, Insp. Mohd Mazri Muksil, Insp. Ang Mei Cin, and SM Ridvaner Haddi.
Earlier, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) also successfully crippled an organised crime group involved in violent offences across Sarawak through special operations codenamed ‘Ops Pusak Merah’.
The operations, led by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in collaboration with the Sarawak Police Contingent (IPK), targeted a syndicate involved in crimes such as robbery causing injury, arson, grievous hurt, rioting with weapons and extortion.
Bukit Aman CID Director, Datuk M. Kumar S. Muthuvelu, said the group was led by a 41-year-old local man and comprised 26 members aged between 19 and 44, most of whom are repeat offenders. The syndicate has reportedly been active since 2020.
“Between April 19 and April 23, a total of 23 local suspects were arrested. All are currently being remanded under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) until May 18,” he said in a statement.
