Viral cable theft footage under scrutiny as police investigate what happened
SHAH ALAM: Police have denied claims that a patrol car escorted cable thieves in Ampang, saying a viral video had been misinterpreted and that officers were actually responding to information about suspected cable theft.
Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said one suspect had been arrested and charged under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft before being fined RM8,000.
He said police were still tracking several accomplices who escaped during the incident in Kampung Tasik Tambahan, Ampang.
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“The MPV was not providing an escort. Police had received information on possible criminal activity.
“Acting on that information, the MPV went to the location to verify the matter, and an arrest was made at the time,” he told a press conference at the Selangor police headquarters here today.
Shazeli said the incident had attracted controversy because of the way the video was interpreted and circulated online.
He said police were working to identify other suspects believed to be involved, but declined to disclose how many were being sought, citing operational considerations.
He also declined to provide details about the suspect who had been charged.
“If I reveal it, the suspect’s friends may know who has been arrested.
“At this stage, we are focusing on tracing the suspects who are still at large,” he said.
Shazeli said preliminary investigations indicated that the group may have been active since early this year.
However, he said police had yet to record a statement from the house owner linked to the viral footage, adding that the person would be interviewed as part of the investigation.
“This is part of the investigation process, to determine which side is right, which side made mistakes and whether there were any weaknesses,” he said.
The case came to public attention after a video circulated online alleging that a police MPV had escorted a vehicle carrying stolen cables in Kampung Tasik Tambahan.
Previous reports said police received a call from a member of the public at about 3.59am regarding a group suspected of stealing cables near Masjid Al-Ubudiah.
Ampang Jaya police had earlier said a man was arrested while allegedly attempting to pull a cable out of a manhole using a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Shazeli said police welcomed videos and information from members of the public, but urged people not to draw conclusions before investigations were completed.
“What we want is to verify the authenticity of such recordings and ensure they are not manipulated.
“We are not stopping people from sharing such recordings. It is part of information-sharing, and we appreciate it.
“But my advice is, do not be quick to make conclusions. Share information with PDRM, but do not make early conclusions before knowing the full story, because that can lead to slander,” he said.
