JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - Twelve students are among 15 people detained on suspicion of being involved in gang robberies around Ulu Tiram.

Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said police raided an empty house in Taman Desa Cemerlang at 2.30am on Aug 31 where they arrested the suspects, aged between 15 and 21.

"We found 15 mobile phones, eight parangs and 12 ski masks in the house," he told a press conference yesterday, adding that the three men picked up together with the students were jobless.

"All the students have been released on police bail while the other three suspects are being detained at least till tomorrow for further investigations," he said.

In an unrelated case, police arrested three men and seized four stainless steel boilers worth RM40,000.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar said the suspects, aged between 25 and 45, were arrested last Friday in raids.

"We seized the boilers which were stolen from a factory in Pasir Gudang Industrial Park on Sept 2," he said.

He added that the suspects would be detained until Sunday to assist police in investigations.

They are also being investigated for gang robbery.

In another case, police detained a 36-year-old man for making a false report, claiming that he was robbed of RM40,000.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar said the man was being remanded for giving false information, which carries a penalty of up to six months' jail, a RM2,000 fine or both upon conviction.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar also said that police had taken statements from 50 suspects believed to be connected to the missing RM1mil syabu case.