Three Malaysian police officers among six arrested over alleged robberies targeting foreigners in Kedah
Three policemen were among six people arrested in Kedah over alleged robbery cases involving foreign nationals in Kodiang and Alor Star. Police said the suspects allegedly took cash, mobile phones and jewellery in separate incidents on 27 June and 1 July.
MALAYSIA: Three police officers were among six people arrested in Kedah, Malaysia, over separate alleged robbery incidents involving foreign nationals, according to state police.
Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the arrests were linked to two incidents reported in Kodiang and Alor Star on 27 June and 1 July.
The cases involved allegations that suspects impersonating or identifying themselves as police officers had taken cash, mobile phones and jewellery from foreign nationals.
Five suspects allegedly raided house in Kodiang
In the first incident, five suspects wearing police vests allegedly approached a house in Padang Sera, Kodiang, at about 12.20am on 27 June.
Adzli said the suspects entered the house and ordered six foreign residents inside to hand over their mobile phones.
They allegedly took RM1,750 (approximately US$427) in cash before leaving the location.
The suspects were later detained by members of the Voluntary Patrol Scheme (SRS), who noticed their suspicious behaviour and contacted the Kubang Pasu district police headquarters.
Police investigations found that two of the suspects were police officers attached to a station in Perlis, while the other three were civilians.
One of the suspects was also found to have two previous criminal and drug-related records, Adzli said.
Police said the group was also linked to two other robbery cases reported in Kodiang.
The case is being investigated under Section 395 of the Penal Code for gang robbery.
Kedah policeman accused of stealing jewellery
In a separate incident on 1 July, a 26-year-old police officer attached to the Kedah police headquarters was allegedly involved in a theft case at a house in Jalan Langgar, Alor Star.
According to Adzli, the suspect allegedly introduced himself as a police officer before demanding the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards belonging to a Rohingya family.
The family included the victim, his wife and their three children.
The suspect allegedly took the victim’s mobile phone before removing a pair of gold earrings from the victim’s wife.
Police said the suspect later returned the UNHCR cards and mobile phone before leaving the area on a motorcycle.
He was arrested the following day, with police recovering items believed to have been stolen and used during the incident.
Investigations ongoing
Adzli said the suspect was also linked to an incident reported on 30 June at the Derga Jaya police housing area.
The case is being investigated under Section 392 of the Penal Code for robbery.
Police have not disclosed further details about the suspects as investigations remain ongoing.
