Since the enforcement of the EMD last August, 335 criminals have been strapped with the device, either on their left or right leg, said Bukit Aman Anti-Vice, Gaming and Secret Societies (D7) principal assistant director Roslee Chik.
A strap, a smart tag and a beacon – these are the only items needed now to successfully track an offender under home confinement (house arrest) at any time and anywhere in the country.
“With all these turned on, I assure you, we can track you from anywhere, 24 hours a day,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently.
The strap and smart tag made of waterproof material weigh about 200 gm. They are assembled together and strapped on an offender’s leg by a police officer, before he or she is released.
The beacon needs to be plugged in at home by the offenders themselves; it will set the radius for allowable area and then transmits a signal that lets the smart tag figure out its proximity.
“It might sound that they have the liberty to plug in wherever and whenever they like.
“But rest assured, the location to plug in the beacon will be identified earlier on by the police, and any attempt to turn it off or plug in somewhere else will trigger notification to the police in charge,” he said.
Roslee said the EMD wearer would be briefed extensively beforehand and any attempt to breach the rule, including failing to recharge the smart tag amounts to an offence under Section 15(4) of the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca).
He said the offender could be jailed a mandatory two years if found guilty.
The EMD was enforced for criminals detained under Poca that was amended in 2013 to allow for detention without trial. It was implemented to tackle serious and organised crimes following the repeal of the Internal Security Act 1960.
Once strapped, Roslee said, the user of the device would then be tracked by the police’s main Control Centre, Contingent Control Centre and District Control Centre, 24 hours a day.
He said the current EMD system also allowed police officers to receive short message services (SMS), in case the offenders attempted to run away from their confined area, cut the strap, or when their smart tag’s battery was low.
“With this, it eliminates the need for police to monitor the screen at all times,” he said, adding, the smart tag was packed with a battery that could last up to seven days and be recharged with a powerbank-like “on-body chargers.”
Roslee also said it would be foolish of those wearing the EMD to attempt escaping despite knowing it was an impossibility.
“They should well realise that this is not some laughing matter. They have been allowed flexibility where they can do what they want, such as get a job, go for a swim, or do any normal activity. So they should appreciate it,” he said.
He noted that the use of the device was subject to the decision of the Crime Prevention Board and it could be for a minimum period of two to a maximum of five years, after which the offender’s case will once again be reviewed for further action.
Although just seven months since its implementation, Roslee was satisfied with the overall reduction in violent crime particularly repeat offences.
“I believe we will see a lot more reduction in repeat offences if the use of EMD is implemented in full force.
“We are now waiting for the date of enforcement of Section 388(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for a suspect to be released on bail with the use of the device,” he said.
On December 2 last year, Home Deputy Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the ministry was also planning to enforce the use of the EMD on those detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (Pota).
– BERNAMA