MALACCA: There are dozens of stolen vehicles on the road equipped with genuine road tax sticker and number plate.
The work was done by a syndicate, masterminded by a 62-year-old man named “Peter” from Negri Sembilan. The gang had managed to obtain documents to sell the stolen vehicles as genuine cars. The members were also involved in car-jacking and car theft.
One of the car-jacking cases was reported in January when two men robbed a young couple of RM20,000 and took off in their car at Taman Melaka Raya.
Subsequently, the police set up a special team to investigate the cases. The syndicate was uncovered when one of its members was arrested before Peter was detained on May 17.
Questions emerged on how the syndicate had obtained road tax documents and vehicle registration grants for stolen vehicles. The documents were said to have been issued to Peter.
Malacca police have sought help from Bukit Aman to trace those working with Peter to issue the genuine documents.
State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Ramli Din said police were working with Bukit Aman after confiscating 14 vehicles under Ops Lejang that was set up to track down members of the syndicate.
Nine people aged 40 to 62 have been detained.
The arrests would help solve 15 cases of vehicle thefts in five states and the Federal Territory.
“The mastermind has a criminal record of 11 cases, including drug abuse and robbery” said DCP Ramli.
He added that Peter and his gang had sold the stolen cars complete with genuine registration number and road tax sticker at a much lower price than market value.
He said seven of the buyers were also being investigated as they all had criminal records.
