GEORGE TOWN: Two men, believed to be triad members, were arrested for blackmailing a trader at a phantal which was set up in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebration, at Jalan Kebun Bunga here on Friday.
Penang police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the two men, in their 20s, were arrested not far from the scene after police received a report about the incident which took place about 4am.
"Police received a report from a trader in the area, who claimed that two men approached him and threatened to destroy his stall because he was doing business there. The trader, who was worried about his safety, filed a police report.
"Based to the police report, we conducted investigation and arrested the two men not far from the location in question.
"Preliminary investigation found that there were gang tattoos on their bodies and they are believed to be members of a triad," he said after a policing walkabout programme in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebration at Jalan Kebun Bunga here today.
Mohd Shuhaily said the two men were believed to be intoxicated when they allegedly committed the crime.
He said the two had been remanded until Feb 7 to assist investigations under Section 506 of the Penal Code and Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.
Meanwhile, Mohd Shuhaily said police opened four investigation papers involving theft cases, namely pick-pocketing and bag picking, involving four victims, including a Canadian tourist, during the Thaipusam celebration in the state.
He said the 79-year-old Canadian man suffered RM6,000 losses after becoming a victim of pickpocket while watching the chariot procession at Lebuh Chulia here yesterday.
"The man only realised his wallet containing RM6,000 was missing at 9am and lodged a police report.
"We also received police reports from three women, aged 37 to 58 , who fell victims to pickpockets.
"The three women, who are locals, lost RM1,150 in an incident yesterday at Jalan Utama here," he added.
He said police were now actively tracking those involved and the four cases were being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code.