11 men nabbed in connection with funeral procession at Jalan Siram

 

The 11 men, aged between 15 and 35, were detained around Butterworth and Mak Mandin between 6pm and 10pm today. -NSTP file pic

BUTTERWORTH: Police have detained 11 men in connection with a viral video footage of a group of men, who were seen carrying a casket while others were dancing to the beat of music along Jalan Siram here, recently.

The 11 men, aged between 15 and 35, were detained around Butterworth and Mak Mandin between 6pm and 10pm today.

Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Noorzainy Mohd Noor said the district's criminal investigation department set up a special task force to track down the men in the footage after it went viral earlier today.

"This led to the arrest of the 11, including a 15-year-old.

"All of them have been positively identified as having been at the scene and featured in the video footage. All of them admitted to being involved in the funeral procession at Jalan Siram to 'celebrate' the death of their friend.

"We are still tracking down several individuals in connection with the incident," he said tonight.

Noorzainy said all of them would be produced at the Butterworth Court for remand tomorrow.

Earlier, it was reported that police were tracking down a group of men, believed to have flouted the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the current total lockdown, by walking in a group and carrying a casket at Jalan Siram here recently.

Footage of the incident went viral on social media today.

The minute-long video is believed to have been taken by one of the men in the group before it went viral.

Netizens have questioned the group's action, saying it was against the SOP of the lockdown period.

The case is probed under Section 269 of the Penal Code and Regulation 9 of the Disease Prevention Measure and Control Act 2021.

The case is also probed under Section 44 of the Societies Act and Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act.

Noorzainy said the case is considered to be solved.

"Police are wrapping up the investigation paper before referring it to the Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office for the next course of action." - NST