| James Kon |

FIVE Bangladeshis detained by the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) for alleged involvement in a gang robbery will be facing imprisonment of not more than 30 years and at least 12 whippings under Section 395 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 22.

Details of the case were revealed during a press conference yesterday by Assistant Commanding Officer and Criminal Investigation Officer at Tutong Police District DSP Hendrie bin Haji Amin and Assistant Officer-in-Charge of Tutong Police Station P/Inspector Abdul Hakim bin Haji Mohd Salleh.

The five suspects are Shaheb Ali, 29, Mohammad Basir Ahammad, 24, Maruf Ahmed Choudhury, 32, Md Hassan Mondol, 23, and Shohaq Mia, 31.

They were detained by the RBPF on February 16, 17 and 23.

According to DSP Hendrie bin Haji Amin, the Tutong Police Station on February 15 received a report of a robbery at Simpang 199, Jalan Banggungus, Kampong Tanjong Maya, Tutong at 2.38pm, where a Bangladeshi man was assaulted and had his personal belongings at home taken away.

The items reported missing were two gas cylinders, a rice cooker, a gas stove, a standing fan, a mobile phone and BND600 cash.

The victim was reported to have been hit and punched in the abdomen as well as slapped in the face by the perpetrators.

The RBPF urged members of the public who might be additional victims of the crime or witnesses to lodge a report at their nearest police station.