JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 22 — Police have crippled the notorious Richi Gang criminal group that is believed to be active in a string of burglaries and vehicle theft in Johor since 2022.
A total of nine suspects, including the group’s 21-year-old alleged mastermind and de facto leader, were arrested in a series of state-wide police raids between September 21 and 28.
Johor deputy police chief Abdul Latiff Mehat said the suspects consisted of seven men and two women, aged between 21 and 37.
He said all of the suspects, including the suspected mastermind, were locals.
“Initial investigations revealed that the ‘mastermind’ would determine which home or shophouse to break into before giving the order.
“Members of the Richi Gang are known to break into homes or shophouses that also has a vehicle parked in the premises.
“The suspects will then flee with the victim’s vehicle, which would then be used to commit the same crime at another location,” Abdul Latiff told reporters at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.
He was accompanied by senior officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Abdul Latiff said the gang members would usually target premises that have older local cars such as Proton Wira, Proton Satria and Perodua Kancil as these vehicle models are not equipped with modern anti-theft features.
He said based on investigations, the gang has been active around the Johor Bahru, Seri Alam, Kulai, Pontian, Kluang and Batu Pahat districts since 2022.
“Checks revealed that eight of the nine suspects have been charged in the past for burglary and theft.
“With the arrest of the Richi Gang members, police believed that they have solved 32 criminal cases throughout Johor, with 15 shophouse break-ins, eight home break-ins and nine vehicle thefts,” he said, adding that the victim’s losses amounted to more than RM100,000.
Abdul Latiff said police are also investigating if the gang members are linked in two criminal cases in Kemaman, Terengganu.
He said a total of 32 investigation papers have been referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office where 18 have received orders to charge.
“One of the suspects has since been charged at the Kluang Magistrate’s Court, while the other five will be charged at the Johor Bahru, Kulai and Batu Pahat Magistrate’s Courts,” he said.