TAWAU – Three suspects of four armed robberies at sea off Tawau and Kunak were nabbed by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) on Friday.
A day before the arrest, two male suspects were accused of robbing a boat in Inderasabah here at 5pm.
The suspects had a pistol and stole a generator, a gas cylinder, and a mobile phone with a total worth of about RM2,000.
Esscom commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman said a special operation was launched with Semporna marine police following the incident, and three male suspects, all Filipinos, were captured near Nusa and Omadal Islands off Semporna at 9.30pm Friday.
“The suspects’ boat had a pistol with 25 bullets, a mobile phone, a machete, and a boat engine believed to be stolen. We seized about RM12,700 worth of items,” said Fuad.
“This group is suspected to be involved in four armed robberies at sea: three in Tawau and one in Kunak.
“We believe that this arrest shows the commitment of the security personnel in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone to protecting this place.
“We urge the local community to be alert to surrounding threats and provide us with information regarding suspicious people so we can act accordingly,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery, punishable with maximum 20 years imprisonment, liable to whipping upon conviction. – The Vibes, December 6, 2020
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