A former member of a government enforcement agency with 106 previous criminal and drug-related records was charged at the Magistrates’ Court here today with allegedly acting as an accomplice in a four-wheel-drive vehicle theft syndicate.
Mohd Azri Mohd Kassim, 45, who is unemployed, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Magistrate Aimi Nawwar Mohamad Othman.
He was accused of jointly stealing a Toyota Hilux belonging to a company with another suspect who remains at large. The vehicle was allegedly taken from a car park in Taman Ceria at about 7.05pm on August 11.
The charge was framed under Section 379A of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same law, which carries a prison sentence of up to seven years and a possible fine upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, the complainant, who works for the company, had parked the Toyota Hilux behind a hotel before heading to a nearby market with a friend.
When they returned after shopping, the complainant was shocked to find two unidentified men inside the vehicle.
The complainant and his friend managed to detain Mohd Azri, while the second suspect fled from the scene. Police were subsequently contacted.
Investigations found that the accused and his accomplice had allegedly targeted the Toyota Hilux before intending to take it to the border for sale.
Police checks also revealed that Mohd Azri had 106 previous criminal and drug-related records, including cases involving vehicle theft in the Klang Valley.
He was also believed to have been recruited by the alleged mastermind of the syndicate only a few days before the incident to assist in stealing vehicles.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Shahzleen Ibrahim appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Mehnagha Luckhmana.
The court denied bail and fixed October 9 for mention of the case for the submission of documents.
