SUNGAI BULOH: Police arrested nine Thais, including a 14-year-old boy, who were in possession of fake guns and knives while in a mosque near here.
The group, comprising seven males and two females ranging in age from 14 and 50, claimed they had come to Malaysia to collect donations for a mosque in Thailand.
District police chief Superintendent Dr Abdul Aziz Awang Darus said they were nabbed at a mosque in Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh at about 12.15am yesterday.
Abdul Aziz said the mosque’s caretaker had alerted the police after one of the Thais allegedly threatened him with a gun.
"They went to the mosque to sleep, but were not allowed to by the caretaker. One of them then (allegedly) threatened him by brandishing a gun.
"Police went to the location after they were contacted by the caretaker," Abdul Aziz told media during a press conference at the Police District Headquarters here.
Police later inspected a pickup truck and a car belonging to the group and found weapons, as well as containers used to collect donations, in the vehicles.
"Police seized four fake guns, 123 bullets in the form of ball bearings, four donation containers, four knives, RM1,500 in cash, and fake documents which purportedly allow them to solicit donations," he said.
Police also confiscated the two vehicles bearing Thai registration number plates.
Abdul Aziz said police believe they are part of a larger donation-collecting syndicate in Thailand, whose members enter Malaysia regularly to collect donations or even extort members of the public for money.
He said the Thais are being remanded until Friday. An investigation is being carried under Section 36 (1) of the Firearms Act 1960.