Photo courtesy of Malaysian Gazette
BUTTERWORTH: A wanted man with 16 cases in his criminal record was killed in a shootout with the police in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 31) morning in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said that the 12.35am incident began when a police patrol came across a sport utility vehicle, and found that it was using a fake registration number and had been linked to two recent robberies in Butterworth.
"The team introduced themselves before asking the suspect to stop his vehicle for inspection but the suspect tried to flee and opened fire at the police,” said Comm Khaw.
"In self-defence, the team opened fire and the suspect sped off in his vehicle for around 200m before crashing along Jalan Sungai Lembu. The suspect then got out of the SUV before pointing a gun at the team,” he added.
Comm Khaw then said that the police fired several shots in self-defence and the suspect was hit in the process.
"The suspect was found dead near the vehicle," he said at a press conference at the site of the incident in Butterworth.
Comm Khaw said the semi-automatic pistol used by the suspect in the exchange of fire has been confiscated.
"The preliminary investigation found that the suspect was involved and wanted in two robbery cases involving a gaming outlet and a grocery store in Butterworth. The suspect operates solo and actively commits crimes including armed robbery,” he said.
"His modus operandi is to scare the victim with a gun. Further investigation found that the suspect who is a Penangite has 16 past cases in his record involving robbery, drugs and the possession of weapons among others,” added Comm Khaw.
He also said that the suspect was in and out of the Simpang Renggam prison and added that the suspect was active in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka.
"From what we have reviewed the suspect was a dangerous criminal who had a semi-automatic pistol. We will look into the suspects activities to see if he has committed a crime in the states bordering Penang, namely Kedah and Perak, based on his modus operandi," said Comm Khaw.
