BUKIT MERTAJAM: They thought they could hide in an area they were very familiar with. They were dead wrong.

Mohd Fairus Adam, also known as Joe Mafia, and his sidekick Mohd Noor Ahmad Mustafa were killed in a shootout with the police at Kampung Padang Ibu in Penanti near here, four days after they escaped while being escorted to the Butterworth courthouse.

Mohd Fairus and Mohd Noor, aged 31 and 28 respectively, were both from Kubang Ulu and knew the area very well, according to police.

They were in a black Proton Perdana believed to have been supplied by gang members, who also gave them at least one firearm.

Police are closing in on the five other detainees who escaped from a police van on Monday morning.

Relating the shootout drama, Penang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the two fugitives were spotted in their car in Kubang Semang at about 12.30pm yesterday.

Police dragnet: Police scuba divers trawling an irrigation canal for the body of Mohd Noor. - ASRI ABDUL GHANI / The Star
(insert: Mohd Fairus Adam (left), Mohd Noor Ahmad Mustafa (right)

Policemen, acting on a tip-off, tried to stop the car for inspection about 15 minutes later.

The suspects, however, tried to crash their car into the police car, DCP Abdul Rahim said here.

“They then sped off towards the village. The policemen gave chase for about 3km before the suspects' car skidded off the road and fell into an irrigation canal.

“The two men scrambled out of the car. Mohd Fairus immediately opened fire at the policemen but the shots hit the police car.

“Policemen then returned fire and killed both men,” DCP Abdul Rahim said, adding that the body of Mohd Fairus was found in the canal, about 50m from the car.

Police found an .32-caliber automatic pistol used by Mohd Fairus.

Down into the ditch: A police helicopter hovering over the crime scene as policemen inspect the area at Kampung Padang Ibu in Permatang Pauh.

“We learned earlier that he had a pistol but we didn't know where he got it from,” DCP Abdul Rahim said.

He said Mohd Noor's body was found on the river bank. He was not sure whether Mohd Noor also fired at the policemen.

“We are still searching the area to find out if the two had another firearm,” he said, adding that the car was not reported stolen.

Police pulled the car out of the river at about 4.30pm.

The two were among seven detainees who escaped at the Butterworth Outer Ring Road after throwing curry powder or instant noodle seasoning to temporarily blind their guards.

DCP Abdul Rahim said police believed the remaining fugitives were hiding in the Tasek Gelugor, Lunas and Penanti.

“It is difficult for the five to flee these areas because we have set up many roadblocks. We have over 250 policemen combing the areas,” he added.

Abdul Rahim said the seven had earlier split up into two groups.

“We hope the five will surrender to the nearest police station,” he said.

He warned the public against harbouring them, saying they could be charged under Section 216 of the Penal Code for doing so.

The five fugitives are Hissham Abdul Rahman, 39, Mohd Sharimy Nor, 28, Mohd Khairulnizam Abdul Rani, 26, Hamzani Abdul Rahman, 37, and Farid Akhtar whose age is not known.

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