Police Arrest Five, Rescue 32 Stolen Cattle In Bachok

KOTA BHARU, June 18 (Bernama) -- Police arrested five individuals and rescued 32 head of cattle believed to have been stolen during a special operation in Bachok early yesterday morning.

Pasir Puteh District Police Chief Supt Saari Yaacob said the operation, conducted between 3:00 am and 4:00 am by the D4 Branch of the Kelantan Contingent Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department in collaboration with the Pasir Puteh District Police Headquarters (IPD) Criminal Investigation Division, led to the arrest of five local suspects comprising four men and one woman.

He said all the suspects were detained at two separate locations, namely a house at Jalan Kandis, Kampung Telong, and another house in Kuping Cherang Sepulai, Bachok.

"Based on initial investigations and guided by the detained suspects, police went to an oil palm plantation area in Kampung Gong Nyatoh, Telong, Bachok, where they discovered 32 cows tied to oil palm trees with ropes," he said in a statement today.

Saari added that preliminary investigations revealed the cattle are believed to belong to nearby villagers who had previously reported them missing.

He said the police are currently conducting an ownership verification process and tracing the owners of the livestock.

He added that the case was being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft, and further investigations are underway to identify the involvement of other individuals as well as the syndicate's modus operandi.

In relation to this, members of the public who have lost cattle are requested to visit the Kubang Kerian Veterinary Department for identification purposes.

"Those with information regarding the incident are also urged to contact the nearest police station or the Pasir Puteh IPD to assist with the investigation," he said.

-- BERNAMA