Eight suspects have been arrested by police authorities for deliberately cutting Telekom Malaysia (TM) fibre-optic cables, causing a telecommunication outage on July 30 and losses amounting to RM500,000. The suspects may have cut the wires because of business rivalry over contracts.
The cutting of the TM cables resulted in government buildings being affected. It includes the courthouse and banks in Ayer Keroh, the Bukit Baru housing area, Kandang and Merlimau.
Melaka Tengah District Police Chief ACP Afzanizar Ahmad said that the suspects were arrested at different locations—including Melaka Tengah and Jasin, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor between 12.50am on August 3 and 7pm on August 4. They were former TM contractors, including a supervisor, aged 24 to 42 years old.
“A 36-year-old TM technician made four police reports at the police station in Kandang on July 31, Merlimau on August 1, and Bukit Baru on August 1 and 3. Subsequently, a special team was assembled and suspects 1 to 6 were arrested in Muar and Melaka Tengah, while two more gave themselves up at the Melaka Tengah District Police Headquarters (IPK),” said the Police Chief.
He added that three vehicles, a manhole key and pliers where believed to have been used in committing the crime, and were confiscated. Two of the suspects (aged 26 and 27) also have an arrest record for drug- and car theft-related crimes. Everyone arrested is on remand for four days for investigation under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum two years’ imprisonment upon conviction.
In late July, 7 staff members from several different telco companies were arrested for allegedly revealing personal data of their customers. They also gained profits amounting to millions of ringgit for the past five years.
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