SARATOK: Police arrested a man believed to be involved in a palm oil theft case following an operation by the Saratok National Criminal Investigation Division (NCID) on Thursday (Nov 6).
District police chief DSP Mathew Manggie said the suspect was arrested around 11.50 am at a house here, leading to the seizure of several items including a Toyota Hilux, palm fruit bunches, a metal loading spike, and a payment receipt from a local palm oil company.
He said the case stemmed from an incident on Nov 5 when an auxiliary police officer from Salcra spotted a Hilux loaded with palm fruit bunches believed to have been stolen from Salcra’s plantation at Block 21, Phase 5, Lubok Renit, Jalan Temudok.
“The suspect and his accomplice fled the scene when approached by the complainant and plantation workers,” he said in a statement.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspect had received a call from his accomplice to collect the fruits, which were later sold at a ramp in Saratok.
The suspect admitted sharing the proceeds with his accomplice and using the money to buy drugs.
Mathew added that the suspect, who has two previous criminal records, also tested positive for methamphetamine.
The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft.
