KUALA LANGAT: A failed business deal is believed to be the reason why 16 suspects, including two Chinese nationals, resorted to using a lorry to steal metal sheets and scrap items from a factory in Telok Panglima Garang earlier this month, police said.
Acting District police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Sufian Amin said the suspects had initially paid about RM400,000 to purchase metal from the factory operator who is a Chinese national.
"Our investigations revealed the factory management failed to deliver on the deal," he told reporters.
"The suspects also provided proof to us that they had paid the factory," he said adding that the suspects felt that they were cheated by the factory operator."
Sufian said none of the suspects have any ties with secret societies.
"The two Chinese nationals arrested followed the group as translators to communicate with the factory operator," he said.
"Our checks also revealed that they entered Malaysia legally," he said adding that one of the suspects who brandished a machete has since been charged in court."
Sufian said 15 other suspects have been freed on bail.
Police arrested the 16 suspects who used a lorry to steal the items from a factory in Telok Panglima Garang, Kuala Langat, on Nov 9.
They -- 14 local men and two Chinese nationals -- were all arrested within 24 hours of the incident.
The arrests followed a police report lodged by the factory manager, a local citizen.
Police had said that the complainant had received a call from an employee who reported that a group of men had entered the factory and stolen metal sheets and scrap items belonging to the factory.
Police also seized a pistol, 20 live bullets, a machete, a car, and a lorry carrying the stolen items.