Cambodian Among Two Held for Stealing ECRL Cables

KUANTAN, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Police arrested two men, including a foreign national, on suspicion of theft of cables for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in a raid on a rubber plantation shed at the Temerloh Industrial Park in Mentakab on Sept 26.

Temerloh Police chief acting ACP Mohd Nasyim Bahron said the suspects, a 30-year-old local man and a 28-year-old Cambodian man, both tested positive for methamphetamine.

“In the raid at 7.05 pm, both suspects tried to escape but were arrested after a brief struggle.

“Further investigation found 5.16 grammes of syabu in the pocket of one of the suspects, while inspection of the shed also found equipment used to steal cables, including a grinder,” he said in a statement today.

He said the local suspect had a prior drug-related record and was charged at the Temerloh Magistrate’s Court on Sept 30 under Section 39A(1) and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

“The foreign national was arrested under the Immigration Act for not having valid documents and has been remanded until Oct 10,” he said.

Mohd Nasyim said during interrogation, both suspects also admitted to involvement in several cable theft cases along with two others known as ‘Musang’ and ‘Sepet’ who are still at large.

Meanwhile, he said the investigation papers related to the case were sent to the Pahang deputy public prosecutor’s office on Oct 1 for further action.

-- BERNAMA