THE High Court in Seremban today sentenced 10 members of the Kabali Gang to 18 months in prison for membership of an unlawful society.

Judge Azizul Azmi Adnan meted out the sentence against K. Sarugunan, 41; R. Kamal Rajh, 28; L. Navinraj, 29; S. Ilangovan, 43; G. Kartik, 28; G. Ravikumar, 30; S. Viven, 23; S. Sivabalan, 26; R. Kunasekaran, 34; and R. Jeevanraj, 25.

They had earlier pleaded guilty to an alternative charge under section 43 of the Societies Act 1966 for being members of an unlawful society after being originally charged under section 130V(1) of the penal code for being members of an organised criminal group.

However, the 10 will walk free as they were arrested three years ago.

Meanwhile, an 11th defendant, S. Subramaniam, 53, was fined RM3,000 for the same offence but was exempted from paying the fine as he had been on remand for the past 463 days.

According to the charges, all of the accused were members of the Kabali Gang, an illegal organisation, between February 1 and November 27, 2019.

Police said the group was responsible for robbing money changers and homes in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

A total of 65 cases were recorded in 2019, with 50 cases in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, while the other 15 were in Negri Sembilan, police were reported to have said. – Bernama, December 13, 2022.