KUBANG PASU: Five Vietnamese men believed to be members of ‘Geng Tebuk’ were charged at the magistrate’s court here today with breaking into a supermarket in July.
However, the suspects, all in their 20s, made no plea as they stood before magistrate Mohd Hadi Hakimi Harun as they did not understand Bahasa Melayu.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects Nguyen Van Hop, Ha Van Khanh, Pham Van Xuan, Nghiem Van Long and Tran Xuan Thong allegedly broke into the Kawang Supermarket at Batu 12, Ayer Hitam, near here, before making away with cash from a metal vault inside the premises on July 2, 2018 at 3am.
All the suspects were charged under Section 457 of the Penal Code and if convicted, they could be imprisoned for up to five years. If that are convicted for robbery, they could face up to 14 years’ jail and a fine. If they were to commit a second offence, they would be liable to be fined or whipped.
Deputy public prosecutor Aqharie Durranie Aziz prosecuted while the accused were unrepresented.
The court fixed Sept 19 for mention and to appoint a Vietnamese interpreter without granting them bail.
In July, a team of police arrested the Geng Tebuk who were notorious for robberies and break-ins at warehouses and supermarkets, stealing roughly RM100,000 in total.
They had been active in the Kubang Pasu, Alor Star, Yan, Sungai Petani and Baling areas since early June.
According to state chief Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ) senior assistant commissioner Mior Farid Alatrash Wahid, the suspects were in a Proton Wira when they were stopped and arrested at Taman Keladi, Sungai Petani.
