Police receive false report over sighting of armed men in Lahad Datu?

KOTA KINABALU - Police had before the  latest reported claim, received a report on  the alleged sighting of armed men in Lahad Datu but it turned out to be a false alarm, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din.

He said he himself had received a phone call from a person claiming that there was a group of armed men in Lahad Datu over two months ago.

"I had asked the Lahad Datu district police chief to send officers to the (said) location as soon as I received the report.

However, upon arrival there, we (the officers) found that the complainant appeared to be intoxicated," Ramli told reporters after officiating at the Sabah Police Contingent Quran Reciters' Assembly, here, today.

He was commenting on a news report on Monday that a 52-year-old plantation worker had lodged a police report after stumbling upon five armed men in military fatigues at Block 8, Felda Sahabat 2 Oil Palm Plantation in Cenderawasih, Lahad Datu, while cleaning the area.

Ramli said police, nevertheless, would not take the matter lightly and had conducted its investigation and intelligence.

"I did not say that the recent (police) report was exactly the same as the one we received (over the phone) two months ago.

"We have mobilised all police elements including the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) to conduct intelligence and check the area involved. However, at this point, we have not found any evidence over the claim," he said.

Ramli meanwhile urged members of the public to lodge a police report on any suspicious activity involving people in groups in their respective areas.

"If it is true, lodge a police report right away. Do not make false report as it is an offence and one can be charged in court for that," he said.

-- BERNAMA