Police cripple criminal gang, detain eight including two teenage girls

Two teenage girls have been detained by the police to facilitate investigations into an abduction-cum-torture of a suspected police informant, three robberies, two house break-ins, car-jacking and firearm possession.

They were among eight suspected members of a gang dubbed 'Geng Padu', who were picked up in two raids at a house in Jalan Bukit Ubi here on Wednesday.

The suspects, aged between 17 and 32, were rounded up between 11.45am and 4.30pm on the same day.

They have been remanded until July 1 to facilitate investigations.

Pahang Criminal Investigation Department chief, Datuk Zakaria Ahmad said the suspects had been active in committing criminal activities in Kuantan, since early this year.

He said they were linked to eight criminal cases which included three robberies, two house break-ins, a stolen car and a case of firearm possession.

"Initial investigations revealed that the group was also involved in abducting and confining a woman on May 1 at Indera Mahkota.

"In that case, the victim was abused and her fingers severed because she was believed to be a police informant," he told a press conference at the Pahang police contingent headquarters here today.

Zakaria said that during the two raids, the police seized a .22 Colt Automatic and Special Magnum pistol, together with 14 unused bullets, believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country.

"The group was very daring and violent and had used machetes and knives during robberies.

He said the police also seized a four-wheel drive vehicle and Perodua Kancil, believed to have been used for criminal activities. Also seized were nine handphones, two LCD television sets and a samurai sword.