Malaysian police nab pirate gang

Malaysian police nab pirate gang

MALAYSIA: Authorities arrested seven pirates suspected of
carrying out a series of attacks on vessels in the Malacca
Straits after a high-speed chase off southern Malaysia, news
reports said Saturday.

The gang, from Indonesia's Riau islands, is believed to be
responsible for several robberies on fishing boats and cargo
vessels over the last two years, said marine police commander
Abdul Rahman Ahmad.

"Their modus operandi is to enter Malaysian waters, make a
strike and rush back to international waters," he was quoted as
saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.

The men, aged between 37 and 50, were arrested on Thursday
night by 14 marine police personnel in two boats patrolling the
waters off Kota Tinggi town following a tip-off.

"The pirates tried to escape upon seeing the (police) team
approaching but the patrol boats caught up with them and forced
them to stop," Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying by the Star
newspaper.

Abdul Rahman said the gang was believed to be involved in a
robbery on April 8 on board a Japanese oil tanker, anchored about
eight kilometers (5 miles) from Tanjung Pelepas port at the
southern tip of peninsular Malaysia. -- AP