KUCHING: Police have arrested a local man on suspicion of being involved in cable theft around the district last Saturday (Sept 23).
Kuching police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah in a statement, said the suspect was arrested at about 10.30am along Jalan Demak Indah Sejingkat.
Prior to the arrest, a police team from Gita police station spotted the suspect burning a cable that had been cut by the roadside.
“Also found were equipment believed to be used for cutting cables as well as a motorcycle registered in the name of the suspect’s friend, who managed to flee the scene during the arrest.”
The suspect denied involvement in any other cases of cable cutting and theft, he said.
Background checks found that the suspect, who tested positive for amphetamine, did not have any prior records.
Ahsmon said the case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code, which carries up to seven years imprisonment or a fine or both, upon conviction.
From January 1 to Sept 23 this year, police have investigated a total of 28 cable cutting and theft cases, leading to 37 arrests.
Of the figure, 25 cases have already been solved and eight of them have resulted in the prosecution of 15 suspects in court.
This year’s figures saw an increase of 12 cases and an increase of 22 arrests compared to last year’s figure of 16 cases and 15 arrests in the same period.
