Police to go after thugs who advertise their services

New Straits Times
07-02-2003
Police to go after thugs who advertise their services
Edition: Main/Lifestyle; 2*
Section: Nation

KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - Thugs who advertise their services for a fee would find the long arm of the law coming after them, Chief Police Officer Deputy Commissioner Datuk Dell Akbar Khan said.

He said this when asked on the disclosure that individuals were advertising services to "bully" and "finish off" someone for fees ranging from RM300 and RM2,000.
"We will investige the activities as it has been brought to light.

"These people should realise there are laws in the country. For a mere RM300, these people claim they can maim but they fail to realise sentences imposed for causing grevious hurt is heavy. We will not tolerate such behaviour."

Dell Akbar was commenting on the report quoting MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief Michael Chong, who made public such advertising trends.

The leaflet, which was printed in Chinese, also offered those interested an opportunity to earn profits through foreign investments, buying the shares directly on the Internet without going through the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange.

Providing a "017" cellular contact number, the leaflet stated that services provided were nationwide.

"This is a serious trend which has been brought to our attention ... previously they were hired killers, now it seems advertising is the gimmick," Dell Akbar said.

He assured that police will track down individuals through the cellphone number printed on the leaflets distributed to the public.

Meanwhile, MCA hotline service chairman Tai Sim Yew urged the Government to view such acts seriously and to legislate into law, making such offences a strict liability statutory criminal offence.

Under the Penal Code, an offender is liable to a mandatory minimum five- year jail sentence and 10 strokes of rotan.

"Whoever engages such service will also be made liable to face the same punishment as those who commit the offence as they are also the principal offenders," she said.

(Copyright 2003)