Angry farmers set lorry ablaze due to stolen oil palm fruits

KLUANG - Two farmers who were enraged after catching wind of their oil palm fruits being stolen in their plantation, decided to act on their own accord by setting a lorry carrying the oil palm fruits ablaze.

The incident occured in Jalan Parit 5, Sungai Limau, Simpang Renggam here on Wednesday.

Kluang district police chief Assistant commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh said prior to the incident at 8.30am, the farm supervisor had entered the area and found traces of the fruits which had been cut.

He said the matter was informed to the Kluang district police headquarters (IPD) personnel at 11am.

"Acting on information, a team was sent from the Simpang Renggam police station and patrolled the area and saw four men unloading the oil palm fruits from the burning lorry in the field.

"Realising the presence of police, the suspects had fled with one successfully caught and after questioning an officer and personnel from the Kluang IPD Criminal Investigation Department successfully arrested three other suspects," he said in a statement on Thursday.

Bahrin said all suspects admitted to stealing the oil palm fruits from the Simpang Renggam PPSB plantation and checks on the lorry found it was owned by a private company registered in Johor Bahru.

He said all suspects worked as labourers in their 30s with addresses in Simpang Renggam and this district with three having 21 prior records relating to crimes and drugs.

"Urine tests found all suspects positive for methamphetamine, while the losses were estimated at RM300, police seized the lorry and oil palm fruits," he said.

He said the farmers who were in their 40s and 50s, who had set the lorry ablaze were also arrested.

"They acted by burning the vehicle out of rage after the fruits were stolen. Both farmers admitted to being at the scene when it happened," he said.

He added all six suspects were remanded for four days to July 16 and the case was investigated under Section 435 and Section 379 of the Penal Code.