By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, May 15: Twenty-three local men aged between 19 and 44 were charged in court here today over alleged involvement in an organised crime syndicate known as the ‘Hung-Hung Gang 24’.
The accused arrived at the court complex under tight security, escorted by heavily armed officers from Bukit Aman and the Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
According to the charge, the men were alleged to have been members of the organised criminal group between December 2021 and April 20, 2026, in oil palm plantation areas around Kampung Temaga Cina/Dayak in the Sematan district of Lundu.
They were charged under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code for being members of an organised criminal group. The offence carries a prison sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years upon conviction.
The suspects had earlier been detained for 21 days under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) after police launched a large-scale crackdown on April 20.
No plea was recorded from the accused as the offence falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Deputy Public Prosecutors later applied for the case to be transferred to the High Court within a month. The court allowed the application and fixed June 22 for further mention of the case.
All 23 accused were also ordered to remain in custody at Puncak Borneo Prison pending the disposal of the case.
The case is believed to be linked to a wider police operation against the group, which authorities reportedly suspect to be involved in organised criminal activities in several districts in southern Sarawak. — DayakDaily
