KUCHING, Jan 7: Police have picked up two suspects in connection with Facebook posts threatening Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (DVS) personnel recently.
State Criminal Investigation Department chief, Datuk Dev Kumar said the first suspect, a 34-year-old bank officer was arrested at his house at Taman BDC Stampin.
He was arrested by the Padawan CID team at 10.50am.
“The suspect had allegedly incited followers of a Facebook page championing stray dogs to set up road blocks and release the captured strays.
“He also suggested using extreme measures to prevent the operation by the department to capture the strays,” Dev Kumar said in a statement.
Another Facebook user, who had incited followers of the page to kill personnel involved in the operation to catch stray dogs, was arrested at 2pm.
The 28-year-old female civil servant surrendered herself at the Kota Sentosa police station after finding out that the police were looking for her.
Both suspects’ phones were also seized and they are currently being detained for further investigation.
The state government initiated a mass operation to remove strays and free-roaming dogs from the streets as it stepped up efforts to curb rabies starting Jan 3, covering several areas in Kuching division.
Following the mass operation, several Facebook users have posted comments and threats on the page that was championing stray dogs, prompting DVS to lodge a police report.
Dev Kumar said police had viewed the comments on Facebook and found some of them to be criminal in nature.
“Police were not amused by the threats issued against public servants who had been entrusted to do their job in accordance with the law. Despite the good intentions of the Facebook page to save the strays, it appears to be inciting violence among some fans of the page,” he said.
On this, he gave assurance all that police would be investigating the case under ‘criminal intimidation’.
“This is a warning to those that may be inclined to prevent the veterinary services personnel from carrying out their duties. Any attempt to use force or cause harm or prevent public servants from carrying out their duties is an offence and the person(s) responsible will be arrested, investigated and be recommended to be charged in court,” he warned. — DayakDaily
