TAWAU POLICE HOT ON THE HEELS OF AN ARMED GROUP

TAWAU: Police are hot on the heels of an armed group of seven men believed to be foreigners who staged an anchovies heist at an anchovies trapping platform off Inderasabah last Saturday.

District Police Deputy Chief, Supt Keong Ho Eng, said marine police had since been scanning the waters off Roach Reefs and Tawau to track them down.

He said initial investigations found that the robbers, who were reported to be wearing masks and armed, had arrived at the platform around 2.10am in two 40hp boats.

"They robbed the fishermen there and escaped with about 40kg of anchovies worth RM300 towards an unidentified destination," he said.

However, Keong declined to make any speculation on the nationality of the robbers although they were claimed to have spoken in a foreign tongue.

"We have also not determined whether the weapons used were M-16s because the reports lodged by the victims were not precise," he said.

A local daily had reportedly interviewed the victims who recalled jumping into the sea when the robbery occurred. (DE)