Sunday August 21, 2011
Four cops to face action over watch theft
By ZALINAH NOORDIN and TAN SIN CHOW
north@thestar.com.my
GEORGE TOWN: Police took fast action against four personnel over the theft of 117 watches worth RM50,000 from a shop in Campbell Street.
A 44-year-old lance corporal has been suspended with immediate effect pending investigation over his alleged involvement in selling some of the watches at a makeshift stall in Lorong Kulit here, said George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng.
Three other policemen, aged between 24 and 31, tasked to investigate the matter would also face disciplinary action.
ACP Gan said the three from the Datuk Keramat police station had allegedly tried to drag their feet in their investigations into the theft upon learning that the suspect was their colleague.
Stolen items: ACP Gan and his officers showing some of the watches that were seized from the lance corporal in George Town yesterday. Police seized 42 stolen watches worth RM15,000 from the lance corporal in the 9.30am incident yesterday.
The suspect, who was off duty then, is attached to the Sungai Nibong police beat base.
ACP Gan said the case was being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for burglary.
“We will investigate whether he was the one who stole the watches or whether he was selling stolen items,” he said during a “Police Meet the Public” session at Tesco Hypermarket in Sungai Dua yesterday.
Watch shop owner Tan Chee Khew, 49, had earlier received information that the 117 watches that were stolen from his shop on June 27 were being sold at Lorong Kulit.
“I went there to check. I know the watches belonged to me after checking the codes and stickers on them.
“I then called the police, but to my dismay, the three policemen who arrived later apparently asked the suspect to pack and go away.
“It was then that I suspected something was amiss,” he said.
ACP Gan said there would be no cover-up in the case.
He said a 15-year-old and a 24-year-old man had been picked up to facilitate investigations into the theft.
The police are also looking for another man to assist in the probe.
