Five officers nabbed over cable theft

The Star

27-05-2025

SEPANG: Five policemen were among those arrested when authorities busted a cable theft syndicate that had stolen more than RM500,000 worth of materials in the Klang Valley.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the policemen – two holding the rank of sergeant and three holding the rank of corporal – had allegedly funnelled information on police movements and operations to the syndicate.
The arrests also included two contractors for utility firm TM, who had taught the group how to steal cables without triggering alarms, he said.
The swoop began on May 19 when a police patrol from the Kampung Datuk Abu Bakar Baginda police station in Kajang came across three cars parked next to an oil palm plantation.
'Checks showed that two suspects were outside the plantation while six others were burning cables inside the estates.
'Two of the suspects escaped during police inspections while six were successfully arrested,' Comm Hussein said.
The next day, follow-up investigations led to the arrest of three others, including a woman.
'Then on May 22, operations in Cheras and Kajang led to the arrest of six more suspects. These arrests included five policemen who have been remanded.'
A final suspect was caught on May 23 in Taman Sungai Besi but was released on police bail due to a health condition.
'It is believed that the group had been active for a year.
'All suspects are aged between 23 and 53 years old,' he said.
Both masterminds had 36 and 29 past police records respectively and had been involved in past cases of cable theft, Comm Hussein said.
Investigations also showed that the syndicate had made 23 transactions by selling their stolen goods to scrap metal shops in the Semenyih area.
'It is believed that the group had been involved in about 23 cases.
'The value of the cables stolen by the group has been placed at about RM682,183,' he said.
A total of 208 cable theft cases within Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have been recorded from January to April this year, said Comm Hussein, accounting for a third of all such cases nationwide.
In a separate matter, the full Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) report on the Putra Heights gas explosion is due to be completed by the end of June, Comm Hussein said.
'The police have concluded their investigation and handed over the scene to Petronas for recovery and repair work,' he added.
'Our full findings will be issued together with the release of DOSH's report.'
The gas pipeline fire on April 1 destroyed a total of 81 homes while another 81 were classified as partially destroyed. Some 57 homes were also affected but not burned.
Comm Hussein also said an excavator that is of interest to investigators will be dug out during repair works.