FIVE men were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) this morning over suspected links to organised crime. 

The five are allegedly members of Gang 24 in Penang between January 1, 2015 to May 6 this year.  They are charged under subsection 130V of the Penal Code for being members of an organised criminal group. 

If convicted, they can be sent behind bars for a maximum 20 years.

Koh Thiam Hua, 38, Chan Yi Heng, 22, and Harry Tan Cheng Yu, 31, nodded as the charge against them was read out before Sessions Court judge Irwan Suaibon.

Lim Boon Hooi, 40, and Toh Kae Luen, 26 were charged in another sessions court  before judge Norsalha Hamzah. 

Deputy public prosecutor Lim Cheah Kit did not offer bail as the five were Sosma detainees.

Both judges fixed July 5 for mention to give the prosecution time to file an appeal to transfer the case to the Kuala Lumpur High Court. 

Koh was represented by counsel Mohd Zulfiqri Zakaria while Chan was represented by S. Raveentharan. Toh’s lawyer was Muhamad Asri Abdul Hamid. 

The other two did not have lawyers. – May 29, 2017.