Air itam: Police have arrested 13 male suspects, including three minors, to assist in investigations into a violent brawl involving weapons that occurred in front of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Kong Min branch in Air Itam here early yesterday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim stated that all the suspects, aged between 16 and 33, were arrested in five raids across the state. The operation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department's Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) of the Penang Police Headquarters, along with the Northeast District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division, and with assistance from the Central Police Station.
'All the suspects, including the three minors, were arrested under the joint operation, held from 8.19 pm yesterday until 4.22 am today, with those detained including a student, two unemployed individuals and several workers from the food delivery and transport sectors. Investigations are ongoing and the case is being probed under sections 148 and 326 of the Penal Code. The investigation papers will be completed before being referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further instructions,' Lim said in a statement today.
He further explained that investigations found the incident occurred at about 2.45 am yesterday. The armed brawl involved two primary targets aged 17 and 25 and was believed to have stemmed from a debt dispute following a meeting between several individuals at a food court in Kota Bali, Paya Terubong here.
Police are also investigating a vehicle that allegedly struck one of the victims during the brawl, inflicting injuries. As a preventive measure, the police have decided to step up patrols and monitoring at high-risk locations, enhance intelligence gathering, and conduct targeted operations to curb group fights and violent crimes.
Lim urged those with information regarding the incident to contact investigating officer Insp Nurul Izzati Rohim at 013-4092884 or the nearest police station. He also advised the public not to speculate or circulate the identities of the minors involved and warned against taking the law into their own hands or resorting to violence to settle disputes.
He added that police would consider action under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) if investigations found the offences met the requirements for its application.