Wednesday September 3, 2003 - PENANG: Police, who have arrested sixmembers of a syndicate that stole crude palm oil from a refinery in BukitTambun, Nibong Tebal, expect to pick up at least 20 more people soon.

The six detained on Aug 18 included the mastermind.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Othman Talib told a press conferenceyesterday that the police had the identities of the syndicate members, whoincluded company staff and tanker drivers.

He said that these people were identified after the company's managementscrutinised the computer system's log file to see who had access to acertain program at a particular time.

The management had reported to the police after finding out that that thecrude oil deliveries often fell short of expectations.

DCP Othman said that the tanker drivers involved would siphon off one tofour tonnes of the palm oil, worth between RM1,390 and RM5,560, and latersell this to buyers at a discounted rate. Each tanker is capable ofcarrying up to 18 tonnes.