The suspects, aged 13 to 27, were apprehended during operations in Simpang Ampat, Penang; Alor Gajah, Melaka; and Sik, Kedah, this week.

In a Harian Metro report, Alor Gajah police chief Arshad Abu said the six are believed to have participated in a series of robberies involving seven plantation workers, with three cases reported last month.

Apart from allegedly stealing valuables and cash, Arshad said the six are suspected to have slashed and beaten their victims with iron rods and machetes.

He said three suspects were released while the remaining three, including the 13-year-old, will be charged with voluntarily causing hurt when attempting to rob their victims.

The trio will be charged in the Alor Gajah sessions court under Section 394 of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.

Arshad said the first case was reported on Dec 4 last year and involved three Bangladeshi workers who were robbed by five armed men at a vegetable farm in Kampung Padang Kambing, Simpang Ampat.

“The second incident involved three Bangladeshi men robbed by eight men using the same modus operandi,” he said

“The victims filed a report on Dec 4 after claiming they were robbed the day before at a communal housing in Kampung Melekek, Alor Gajah.”

Arshad said the third report was received from a plantation manager who alleged that one of his Bangladeshi workers was stabbed and robbed by six men at the plantation’s quarters on Jalan Kebun Simpang Ampat 1 on Dec 20.

He said the suspects made off with nearly RM9,000 in cash and four mobile phones.