KUANTAN, Oct 20 — Police have crippled four gangs suspected of robbing and stealing cables belonging to the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Telekom Malaysia (TM) in operations conducted from October 12 until yesterday around Temerloh and Mentakab.

Temerloh police chief ACP Mohd Nasyim Bahron said in a statement that between September and October this year, two robbery cases at ECRL cable storage facilities and five TM cable theft cases were reported around Temerloh, Mentakab, and Lanchang.

He said 17 local men aged between 20 and 60 were arrested during the operations, with total losses incurred by ECRL and TM estimated at RM75,000.

“The first group, known as Geng Ravi, was crippled through operations from October 12 to October 15. Investigations revealed the gang is also believed to be involved in several iron and cable theft cases at project sites and factories abandoned by their owners since July this year, while police are tracking down two other suspects who remain at large,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said on October 14, police crippled Geng Kepala, believed to be involved in several Tenaga Nasional Berhad cable thefts at storage facilities, factories, and roadsides around Mentakab since August.

Mohd Nasyim said police arrested a 28-year-old man believed to be a member of Geng Dany in Mentakab yesterday for suspected TM cable theft, adding the gang was previously active in similar activities around Kuala Lumpur.

“The suspect confessed to involvement in several TM cable thefts along roadsides around Mentakab since October this year, alongside another accomplice still at large,” he said.

In an early-morning operation yesterday, he said the department crippled Geng Mista, believed to have been involved in several TM cable thefts from manholes and roadside poles around Temerloh, Mentakab, Jerantut, and Maran since July.

“The gang leader was identified as a member of Geng Kepala arrested on October 14, while another suspect remains at large,” he said.

He said police seized several vehicles, including a lorry, along with coils and cut cable pieces belonging to ECRL, TNB, and TM. They also seized cut iron pole pieces and tools believed to have been used to steal and process cables.

Mohd Nasyim said all suspects were detained to assist in investigations under Section 395 and Section 379 of the Penal Code, Section 431A of the Penal Code, and Section 235(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. — Bernama