KOTA SAMARAHAN: Two unemployed men with a long history of criminal offences were hauled up by police over a pre-dawn gang robbery in Kampung Sui here, where the victim was tied up, threatened with weapons and robbed of cash, valuables and his car.
The incident happened at around 4.30 am on Jan 11 when the victim, a 51-year-old unemployed man, was at his house and heard repeated knocking at the door.
Believing someone was asking for directions, he opened the door, only for three men to force their way inside. The suspects, armed with a machete, an iron pipe and wooden sticks, restrained the victim using nylon rope and ransacked the house.
Kota Samarahan police chief Supt Damataries Lautin said one of them allegedly placed a machete against the victim’s neck while issuing threats to keep him quiet and not report the incident.
“During the robbery, the suspects made off with cash, four phones, a tablet, an ATM card, personal documents, two sling bags and a grass-cutting machine. They also escaped in the victim’s white Toyota Corolla, causing total losses estimated at RM15,000.
“Following intelligence-led operations, the Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Kota Samarahan CID raided a house at Jalan Kampung Sui and arrested the suspects yesterday (Jan 27).
“Several stolen items, including a grass cutter, a Samsung tablet and a MI Note 10 Pro phone, were recovered and later confirmed to belong to the victim,” he said.
Initial investigations found that the suspects, aged 32 and 45, have a combined total of 18 prior criminal records involving robbery, theft and drug-related offences.
During questioning, they admitted to carrying out the robbery with another accomplice who remains at large. The stolen car was later abandoned in Sebuyau–Simunjan area.
Damataries said efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining suspect and recover the vehicle.
Both suspects will be remanded to facilitate investigations under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery.
