A politician with the title 'Datuk' and 28 other men were charged in the Sessions Court in Kajang today with becoming members of an organised criminal group.

They are M Kalai Arasu, 45, who is a Datuk, M Mohan, 34, P Subramaniam, 54, S Ravindran, 37, P Rajendran, 48, E Shamuganathan, 45, A Karpanah, 57, JJ Vignasevaran, 42, R Premraj, 37, and V Arivalagan, 42.

Others are R Suresh Kumar, 39, M Thananbalan, 41, M Kalimuthu, 28, M Saravanan, 37, R Sundran, 61, A Erathai Pragash, 49, T Ravendaran, 30, M Danes, 25, S Sivaneswaran, 25, V Vigny Alfred Raj, 29, R Subramaniam, 37, R Kannan, 33, M Saravanan, 37, M Jayakumar, 36, P Karthik, 31, I Ravindran, 30, S Krishna, 33, Mohd Sarif Abdul Karim, 31 and R Yogendran, 30.

They are charged with becoming members of 'Geng 360 Devan', an organised criminal group, at MV Empayer Sdn Bhd, Jalan Perniagaan Masria 1, Pusat Perniagaan Masria, Batu 9, Cheras, last February.

The charge, under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, provides for an imprisonment for up to 20 years, if found guilty.

However, no plea was recorded as all of them were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and the case would be transferred to the Shah Alam High Court.

Judge Noridah Adam set April 18 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam prosecuted.

Meanwhile, another person, S Raman, 61, was also charged with the same offence today, but the proceeding was conducted at Shah Alam Hospital as he was admitted there for treatment.

- Bernama