KUALA LUMPUR – A retired policemen is among the eight suspects wanted by police for alleged involvement in a major Sabah-based drug syndicate, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said.
The 48-year-old former cop, identified as Haibil Kiraman, was last seen in Tawau, Ayob told a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today.
He had retired from the police force on November 1, 2021.
Other suspects on police’s wanted list are Malaysians, Sahairul Sabudin and Absar Musa, both aged 38; Filipinos, Hasan Syamsuddin @ Nas Botak, Joel Edwin @ Dedek, Sing Harun Musan @ Thambi and Mana Ungkok @ Mike; and an Indonesian woman named Rohani Yunus @ Karisa.
Ayob also said that between December 27 last year to January 19, police have frozen 42 bank accounts amounting to RM1.86 million as part of investigations into the illegal syndicate.
A total of 11 plots of land and 10 pieces of machinery with a combined value of RM2.81 million, as well as RM6.91 million worth of other assets including vehicles, cash and jewelry were also seized by police.
Yesterday, businessman Datuk Maslan Sani, 41, and 10 others were charged for being members of an organised crime syndicate dubbed ‘Geng Upik’ at the Kota Kinabalu sessions court.
They were accused of committing the offence between 2015 and December 24, 2023 under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code and are liable to face a prison term of five to 20 years upon conviction.
No plea was recorded as case mention is scheduled for March 1, before the case is transferred to the high court.
Ayob today said that two serving policemen were among the 11 charged yesterday.
One is an inspector who previously served under the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, while the other is a sergeant with the General Operations Force.
Ayob added that three more members of the syndicate, including a woman, are expected to be charged in Kota Kinabalu on March 1.
He said that the suspects, aged between 25 to 29, are now under police detention, with one of the individuals held at a rehabilitation centre, while the other two are imprisoned for drug-related offences.
“We’re still conducting our investigations into their role (within the syndicate), but it’s possible that they were acting as ‘transporters’,” Ayob said.
Investigations previously revealed that the syndicate, which has been active since 2015, obtains meth supplies from neighbouring states in the peninsula to be distributed to markets throughout Sabah, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
The case is being investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. – January 23, 2024