The Star

Saturday December 20, 2008

Busted – gang extorting nightclubs

KUALA LUMPUR: An extortion gang wanted for terrorising nightclubs in Sri Hartamas was busted by police on Thursday night with the arrest of five men. The five, aged between 20 and 46, were said to be working as security guards, parking attendants and bouncers. They targeted entertainment outlets and demanded “protection money” from several pub owners in the area. Brickfields police chief Asst Comm Wan Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said they would break into and damage premises of owners who did not pay up. In the latest incident on Thursday, two popular nightclubs had their front windows smashed in the wee hours of the morning. One of the nightclub owners, who declined to be named, said he was previously approached by gang members asking for protection money but refused to pay them. “I was shocked to find the windows completely smashed and broken glass everywhere,” he said. City CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Ku Chin Wah said the incident occurred around 4am when men on motorcycles used helmets and golf clubs to vandalise the premises. Police are looking for two men to assist in investigations. They are Balakrishnan a/l Mahagaran @ Joe, 28, whose last known address is at Taman Danau Desa, Jalan Kelang Lama and Shankar a/l Ramasamy @ Shan, 39, from Lot 2, Sri Pahang, Bukit Bangsar. Those with information are urged to contact the Brickfields Police Headquartes at 03-2774 0222.