IPOH, Dec 18 — After detaining two men and killing a third in a shootout, police believe they have dealt a blow to the operations of the infamous Mamak gang.
Perak CID chief Datuk Dzuraidi Ibrahim said the three men were believed to have been involved in a spate of organised crime activities in five states over the past three months.
The cases included armed robbery, breaking and entering, and car theft in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Perak.
“Twenty-four of the cases took place in Perak alone,” he said.
“With the success of this month’s operations, we believe we have put a serious dent in the gang’s activities.”
Dzuraidi said police gunned down a suspected gang member during a brief shootout at his house in Kuala Kangsar on Tuesday.
“Based on our investigations and public information, police conducted a raid on the suspect’s house at about 9.30pm where they were met by rounds of gunfire from the suspect,” he said.
“Police returned fire in self-defence and killed the suspect, who had a criminal record for armed robbery in Kamunting and was also on the police wanted list for the murder of a Motorcycle Patrol Unit police officer in Bagan Serai last May.”
The man was identified as Muhammad Asharaf Jamaluddin, 25.
During the raid, police seized a pistol, four police vests, four Customs Department integrity badges, and an array of weapons, including machetes and axes.
“We believe the suspect was masquerading as a police and Customs officer,” he said.
Earlier, police caught two other gang members, both from Kampung Stesen in Kuala Kangsar, in separate operations.
A 50-year-old suspect, believed to be the mastermind, was detained in a raid on his home in Kampung Tawas here on Dec 6 following a tip-off.
Dzuraidi said the man had 25 criminal records, including for breaking and entering, car theft and armed robbery, and was on the police wanted list.
Police seized two cars believed to have been used to carry out crimes in Kota Baru and Taiping.
“Police also detained his 33-year-old girlfriend, who is being investigated to establish whether she was involved in any of the criminal activities,” he said.
The second suspect was detained during an “Ops Cantas Khas” operation in Lenggong on Sunday.
The 37-year-old man had 20 criminal records and was also on the police wanted list.
Police also seized a stolen car, a police vest and car keys during the raid.
Dzuraidi said public information had helped the investigations into the Mamak gang’s operations.
He said police were looking for Mohd Sharif Abu Bakar, 52, and Nazrulhizam Mohamad Ramli, 35, to help in their investigations.
