Six Held Over High-Value Armed Robberies In Kepong

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- Police have arrested six local men believed to be involved in armed robbery cases by impersonating police officers, resulting in estimated losses of RM4.4 million in three separate incidents around Kepong last Sunday.

Kuala Lumpur Police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said in the incidents, which took place between about 5.30 am and 7.30 am, the suspects broke into three houses occupied by victims comprising two Chinese nationals and an Indonesian woman aged between 29 and 52.

He said the suspects’ modus operandi was to pose as police officers and carry out robberies targeting the residences of foreign nationals.

“During the incidents, one of the suspects pointed an object resembling a pistol at the victims before fleeing with various valuables,” he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters here today.

Fadil said among the items stolen were three luxury vehicles - a Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Toyota Alphard - in addition to a safe, RM24,200 in cash, foreign currency amounting to USD1,200, various jewellery items and two gold bars.

Commenting on the arrests, Fadil said acting on intelligence, police teams from the Sentul District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the Kuala Lumpur Contingent CID detained the first three suspects at 8.45 pm on Sunday, followed by three more in subsequent arrests.

He said the arrest of all suspects, aged between 31 and 51, in the Kuala Lumpur area, led to the seizure of two pistols, eight mobile phones, two security passes, RM13,056 in cash and various foreign currencies, as well as the recovery of all the robbed vehicles and some of the stolen items.

Fadil said investigations revealed that the group, which impersonated police officers to target wealthy victims, operated in a well-planned manner with specific role divisions, including a coordinator to mobilise the crimes with targeted victims.

“Investigations also found that two of the suspects were working as bodyguards but had misused their licences, while another is a suspended police officer with a past record related to drugs,” he said.

All suspects have been remanded for seven days until this Saturday, with one of them testing positive for amphetamine, while the case is being investigated under sections 395, 397 and 170 of the Penal Code. Further investigations are ongoing to determine their links to other cases.

Members of the public with information are urged to channel it to the Kuala Lumpur Police Hotline at 03-2115 9999 or any nearby police station.

-- BERNAMA