IPOH – Residents of the Kinta Valley can breath easier after a violent gang that has been menacing households and businesses in the area with multiple criminal acts was busted by the police this week.
Members of the main quartet in the group, which is called 'Geng Jiva', are believed to have been linked to at least 24 violent crimes and 34 property crimes.
They allegedly caused injuries while carrying out the litany of armed robbery and housebreaking acts in various Ipoh city areas, particularly in Taman Canning, Taman Ipoh Timur and Bercham.
According to Ipoh Police chief ACP Yahaya Hassan, the gang has been effectively crippled with the arrest of the four individuals in an operation on Oct 23.
Those caught include the leader and mastermind. The three men and a woman are all aged between 26 and 35.
The police are confident that they have solved the 24 cases of violent acts and 34 property crimes suspected to have been committed by the group around Ipoh.
"We believe we have crippled 'Geng Jiva’, which has been active in several housing estates, after arresting the four suspects, including the gang leader,” Yahaya said in a statement late last night.
He said the police mounted a raid at a house in Taman Syabas. They managed to seized various items, such as knives, mobile phones and a motorcycle.
He added that two of the men and the woman tested positive for Methamphetamine. All four suspects, who already have prior criminal records, have been remanded for further investigations.
The delicate operation to nab the group was executed at 5.45pm on Tuesday by a team which included the Criminal Investigation Department’s special crime unit known as D9.
They were accompanied by officers from the Ipoh district police headquarters.
The investigations are being carried out under Section 395 of the Penal Code which deals with alleged gang robbery, and Section 397 which is related to the act of “robbery when armed or with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt”.
If convicted under Section 395, they can be imprisoned for up to twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping.
Section 397 is applicable for an offender who is armed with or uses a deadly weapon, or causes grievous hurt to any person, or attempts to cause death or grievous hurt.
If found guilty under this, the offender faces punishment by whipping in addition to any other punishment to which he may be liable under the Penal Code.
The investigation team is now compiling the facts and evidences, and will refer the completed investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor for suggested charges to be laid.
Yahaya extended the police’s appreciation to members of the public for providing valuable information that led to the arrests. – The Vibes, October 27, 2023
