SHAH ALAM: The group of Indonesians who were fired at after attacking Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers off Tanjung Rhu, Banting, are linked to migrant smuggling activities, police said.

　　Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said one of them was killed while four were receiving treatment in hospital.

　　“They were part of a human trafficking ring and we are investigating each of their roles. The papers will be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor soon,” he told a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.

　　He said police have already taken statements from 14 MMEA personnel and two Indonesians being treated at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang.

　　“We have also inspected both boats involved and are tracking between 10 and 15 other foreigners believed to be on the same boat the five were in,” he added.

　　It was reported that the five Indonesian men who attacked the MMEA officers tried to flee the country, while others remained at large.

　　On criticism by Indonesian authorities over the incident, Comm Hussein said MMEA has its own procedures before firing shots in self-defence.

　　“The relevant authorities are stepping up patrols along the maritime borders to curb illegal activities. We are also intensifying efforts to identify smuggling routes,” he said.

　　Elaborating on the incident, Comm Hussein said the five Indonesians had attacked an MMEA vessel on patrol.

　　“They rammed their fibreglass boat against the vessel four times before two of them, armed with machetes, tried to attack the officers. In defence, the MMEA officers fired shots at the boat,” he added.

　　In another case, Comm Hussein said a foreign iPhone theft ring that targeted victims in Klang Valley shopping malls was busted on Jan 25 with the arrest of four suspects.

　　He said 12 of the 13 mobile phones seized were iPhones and that the thefts occurred in Serdang, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Dang Wangi, Cheras and Sentul.

　　Comm Hussein said the group was led by a Vietnamese woman while a Jordanian man was their transporter.

　　“The woman entered Malaysia last December before leaving for Vietnam after a week. She then returned on Jan 17 to target more smartphone users,” he added.

　　Comm Hussein said the stolen mobile phones were sold off in Vietnam for RM3,000 each.