Saturday August 4, 2007
Seven mob leaders nabbed
SHAH ALAM: Seven of Selangor’s most notorious and violent gangsters have been arrested in Batang Berjuntai.
Police officers from the Selangor anti-vice and gaming division arrested the seven during a massive operation conducted under the supervision of Selangor CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday.
This is the second success tasted by DCP Khalid, who vowed to rid the state of gangsters after taking over as CPO three weeks ago.
The latest arrests came after The Star reported yesterday that 80 residents from Taman Perumahan Tennamaram in Batang Berjuntai travelled 90km in a school bus and several cars here to get the attention of the state police over alleged harassment by gangsters in their area.
It is learnt that the seven are among the top leaders of the “08 Gang” operating in various areas in the state, which had evaded the police dragnet on numerous occasions.
DCP Khalid said the men had been involved in assaults and causing grievous hurt, and had also been active in extortion cases, adding that many businesses were forced to close shop when they did not offer them protection money.
“We are trying to find out who are the people working for them and those supporting them.
“The operation to wipe out gangsterism and all other forms of vices will be intensified. I hope the public will support us by providing information” he said.
State Deputy CID chief Asst Comm Chee Cheng Wan said police were looking out for at least five more people believed to be henchmen of the arrested gangsters.
“We thank the public for the information that led to the arrest of the thugs on Thursday. We will go all out and bring the others to book,” he added.
The group of residents had claimed that over the past decade, gangsters had threatened, beaten and slashed people in their area, as well as residents in a neighbouring housing estate.
The gangsters were said to have broken into cars and homes, and set fire to several homes.
