JOHOR BAHRU, THE CRIME RATE CONVERSATION

A local doctor who owns a clinic in Johor Bahru was driving me in his Mercedes sporty coupé last weekend during his day off as we were heading to attend a function when our conversation went to the crime scene in Johor Bahru. He told me that what you read in the newspapers are normally the tip of the iceberg. What you read are cases which involved VIP and death. If it is not as severe as death or at least serious injury to major disability as a result of being a crime victim, it will not be reported. It will only hit the papers if it involved the police head, the politicians or high profile prominent figures in the society.

I asked him how he seems to know so much. He said just by his own clinic alone, he has more than enough crime victims per week to visit him. I joked that business must be very good for doctors practising in Johor Bahru since crime rate is so seriously high. Well, no wild guess these criminals are mostly representing which specific race and even the famous spots to get criminals attacking around. I told him to be careful that perhaps one day these criminals will even imitate as patients to his clinic. Therefore, we could not believe the reports which mention that crime rate is falling. I ask him whether the economic recession is causing the crime rate to escalate by a lot. He said he could not feel the trend, at least not with his clinic. The numbers have always been consistent.

He revealed to me that these criminals are normally people who are too lazy to find work. Therefore, they just be criminals to get enough money to survive. After they run out of money, they will go back to perform criminal acts again. The cycle will continue over and over again for self sustaining life without work. That's how it is with the profile of these criminals. They resort to become criminals as an easy way out to find money to survive.

I guess getting a survey from all doctors in Johor Bahru is much better than getting a survey from policemen on the true amount of crime rates here. People are hesistant or do not trust the police anymore because they are not interested to write your report and most of the outcomes are NFA (no further action). I reported once and many victims shared with me it is as good as disappearing in thin air. Therefore, what's the point of reporting since you already know the outcome?

Snatch thief to face murder charge
By AUSTIN CAMOENS
Wednesday May 20, 2009

JOHOR BARU: A snatch thief, who caused the death of pregnant mother Jamilah Selamat in Ayer Hitam earlier this month, is likely to be charged with murder.

Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said police have recommended to the public prosecutor’s office that the main suspect be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.

It is learnt that the suspect, who has six prior cases of snatch theft and was riding a stolen motorcycle, used the money that he stole from Jamilah to go on a date with his girlfriend.

DCP Mokhtar told a press conference yesterday that police had solved the case with the arrest of six people, including a 20-year-old girl.

He said the first suspect was picked up on May 6 in Batu Pahat. The rest, aged between 20 and 30, were subsequently arrested.

“So far, we have recovered the victim’s handbag, which contained her MyKad, ATM cards and other cards,” he said.

The second suspect will be charged under Section 411 of the Penal Code for possession of the victim’s handphone. The rest are assisting in investigations.

Jamilah, 31, who was two months’ pregnant, was killed when her bag was snatched while she was riding her motorcycle.

She died of severe head injuries after hitting the pavement when she fell off the motorcycle.

The suspect had targeted Jamilah as he thought she was an easy victim with her handbag left unattended in her motorcycle basket.

In an unrelated case, police detained five men from Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, for human trafficking.

DCP Mokhtar said the suspects were arrested between May 13 and yesterday.