JOHOR BAHRU, June 4 — Police have linked the fatal hacking of a 22-year-old man outside an eatery in Pekan Nanas, Pontian last month to a secret society recruitment dispute, with seven suspects set to be charged with murder today.

Acting Johor police chief Deputy Commissioner Hoo Chuan Huat said seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the fatal hacking and will be charged in the Magistrate’s Court today.

He said this follows the Johor Public Prosecutor’s Office decision yesterday to charge the seven under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

“Meanwhile, three previous suspects who were initially arrested have been released and made prosecution witnesses on bond under Section 118 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” he said in a statement.

Hoo said the seven suspects will be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code for acts committed with common intention.

He said a police team acting on information had earlier detained 10 individuals, aged between 18 and 28, in Pontian and Batu Pahat to assist in investigations into the murder.

“During the arrests, police also seized vehicles, clothing, face masks and weapons believed to have been used in the incident.

“Checks revealed that six suspects had prior criminal records, while two others had records involving criminal and narcotics offences,” he said.

On May 21, police received a report of the murder of a 22-year-old local man in front of a restaurant in Pekan Nanas.

The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was believed to have been stabbed and slashed by unidentified assailants.