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8 including 3 women arrested over RM1.9 million gold heist
 Acting Penang police chief Datuk Roslee Chik (left) witnessing the disposal of drugs connected to 891 investigation papers at Kepala Batas, earlier today. Pix by Amir Irsyad Omar
By MOHAMED BASYIR - October 2, 2017 @ 4:25pm

KEPALA BATAS: Police have nabbed eight people, including three women, in connection with the 11kg gold bars and necklaces' heist in a gold processing factory at Jalan Siram last week.

Acting state police chief Datuk Roslee Chik said police detained six people in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, and another two in Johor last Friday. They were in their 30s and 40s.

"We found a match for the fingerprint inside the abandoned car on the day of the incident last Monday with one of the detained men. The three women were the wives of the detained men.

"Of the seven stolen gold bars, we recovered two in Cheras. Another one is believed to have been sold, as per our interrogation," he told newsmen when met at the state police contingent central store at Jalan Butterworth here today.

On Sept 25, four men pulled off a brazen heist, fleeing with about RM1.9 million worth of gold from the factory at Jalan Siram.

The incident happened about 9.30am when two workers were carrying 11kg gold bars and necklaces to a pickup truck, bound for another factory in Kuala Lumpur.

A red Perodua Bezza then pulled up in front of the vehicle. Three men, armed with an axe and a knife, snatched the gold-laden bag from the workers, while the getaway driver remained inside the car.

As the robbers made their escape, one of the factory's security guards fired his gun four times at the car, but missed it. The shots, however, were enough to panic the driver, who sideswiped the car into a parked vehicle before escaping.

Police later found the getaway car parked at a flat in Ampang Jajar, about five kilometres from the scene of the robbery.

Roslee said that police had not ruled out possible inside job which led to the gold heist that day.

"Their planning was very detailed...we are looking at that angle as well. At the same time, we also have the list of buyers for the gold, so they better turn themselves in with the stolen golds or face the consequences," he added.

The eight have been remanded until Oct 5 for further investigation. The case was being investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery and armed robbery.

Meanwhile, police handed over RM10.5 million worth of drugs to be disposed by Syarikat Kualiti Alam Sekitar Sdn Bhd here today.

Amongst the case items destroyed were 50.2kg of marijuana, 20.5kg of syabu and 25.6kg of heroin, apart from items containing prohibited substances, which included 6.8 litres of ethanol and 2.7 litres of methanol.

The drugs were confiscated by the police involving cases between 2006 to 2016.

"We have obtained court order to dispose the drugs, connected to 891 investigation papers, during the said period," Roslee said.

The disposal had to be carried out by Syarikat Kualiti Alam Sekitar as the items were listed as schedule waste under the Environmental Quality Regulations 2005.

"The company has proper facilities to dispose of the drugs, which will not affect the environment. This is more efficient than the traditional burning and burying method," Roslee said.

"As a safety precaution, police escorted the lorry carrying the drugs to the company's disposal facility."

Also present was state narcotics chief Superintendent Maidu Abu Bakar.

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