KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — More than 200 people detained under the Prevention of Crime Act (POCA) have been strapped with an electronic monitoring device (EMD), says Federal CID director, Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh. 

He said this was implemented to monitor their movements, as well as to test the effectiveness of the device.

“Although the number of people being detained under POCA is increasing, we will be prudent in using this law,” he told reporters at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman here today.

Asked whether there were attempts to tamper with the EMD device, Mohmad said:

“We have not received reports of offenders trying to meddle with the device or running away because if they violate the conditions, they will be jailed for two years.”

On October 21, Home Deputy Minister, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed was quoted as saying a total of 975 people were detained under POCA, as of Sept 30.

Of the number, 193 were detained for gangsterism, 451 (violent crimes), 196 (property crimes) and seven for drug-related crimes.

POCA 1959 was amended in 2013 to allow for detention without trial in an effort to tackle serious and organised crimes after the Internal Security Act 1960 was repealed. — Bernama