Motorcycle rob gang member nabbed

Manila policemen arrested the other day a suspected member of a motorcycle robbery gang responsible for a series of holdups of money changers in the city.

Chief Inspector Joselito Sta. Teresa, chief of the District Police and Intelligence Unit (DPIU), identified the suspect as Julhamri Muallam, 26, of 1211 M.H. Del Pilar st., Ermita, Manila.

Sta. Teresa said Muallam was responsible for robbing a courier of Ichiban Money Changer of P1.6 million last Tuesday in front of a school in Intramuros, Manila.

The suspect was nabbed by DPIU operatives led by SPO4 Jess Lais along R. Salas corner M.H. Del Pilar streets in Ermita past 10 p.m.

Recovered from Muallam were several rounds of ammunition, but the money has already been turned over to the syndicate at the time of his arrest.

Sta. Teresa, however, said the owner of the money exchange shop refused to file a complaint against the suspect for fear of retribution from the syndicate.

During interrogation, Muallam admitted acting as the tipster of an eight-man rob syndicate based in Calamba, Laguna. He also named his accomplices, who had victimized a number of money exchange shops in Manila and nearby cities.

Sta. Teresa said he has formed a group of police operatives to go after the other members of the syndicate.