KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested four men for impersonating policemen and committing robberies targeting homes occupied by foreign nationals.
Ampang Jaya district police chief assistant commissioner Mohd Azam Ismail said the arrest was made following a report filed by a Bangladeshi national, who claimed that six unidentified men wearing vests, carrying large scissors and hammers, arrived at his house and claimed to conduct an operation on Thursday.
"Once inside, the complainant and seven other foreign nationals were asked to sit in the living room and were monitored by two suspects.
"The remaining suspects ransacked each room in the house, taking cash, jewellery, mobile phones and personal documents belonging to the complainant and his friends.
"After taking belongings and cash, the suspects fled using a vehicle."
Azam said, a team from the district's Criminal Investigation Department arrested four men, aged 30 to 44, were arrested in Kuala Lumpur the next day.
"The police seized 31 mobile phones, vests with the word "polis" written on them, as well as clothing, hammers, crowbars, spanners, pliers, cash and three motorcycles to assist in the investigation."
Azam said the modus operandi of all suspects was to impersonate police officers, use weapons, and target houses occupied by foreign nationals to commit armed robberies.
"The first suspect had 11 criminal entries and two outstanding drug-related offences.
"The second suspect had a record of seven cases. The third suspect had no prior entries, and the fourth suspect had five."
He added that the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine and opiates.
He said they have been remanded from Feb 24 to March 1.
"The case is being investigated under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code, for armed group robbery and attempting to cause death or grievous injury, and Section 170 of the Penal Code, for impersonating a civil servant.
"If found guilty under Sections 395 and 397, they shall be sentenced to imprisonment for up to twenty years and shall also be liable to whipping whereas, for Section 170, offenders shall be sentenced to imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both."