The hunt is on: Comm Azizi (centre) said police are on the hunt for a fourth suspect. — RONNIE CHIN/ The Star
IPOH: Five people were having supper in a house in Ayer Tawar, Manjung, when four masked robbers barged in before hurting them and escaping with money and mobile phones.
Perak police chief Datuk Comm Azizi Mat Aris said the occupants heard a knock on the back door.
When one of them went to open it, four individuals clad in black clothes, helmets and face masks rushed in, hitting the victim with wooden sticks.
“One of the suspects took a knife from a table and slashed the victim’s back.
“A scuffle ensued between the suspects and the victims as they tried to fend off the attacks,” he said at a press conference after a monthly gathering at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
Relating the incident that happened at about midnight on Aug 8, Comm Azizi said that apart from the victim, his sister, mother and two friends also suffered injuries to their bodies and limbs.
The four suspects then escaped in two cars as the victim’s mother screamed for help.
“The victims lost about RM5,000, and two mobile phones. Another mobile phone was broken,” he added.
Over the next few days, the police arrested a woman in Kampar and two men in Ayer Tawar.
“All three, aged between 18 and 28, are believed to be involved in the armed robbery.
“The woman is being remanded until today while the two men until Saturday,” said Comm Azizi, adding that the police are on the hunt for the fourth suspect.
The case is being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt in a robbery.
Comm Azizi said the three who were arrested worked for an illegal money-lending syndicate.
“We seized a laptop during the woman’s arrest and found data related to the victim and other employees of the syndicate,” he said, adding that the victim had failed to pay back about RM1,000 to loan sharks.
The syndicate, he said, started operating in 2021 and would target senior folk and small business operators in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Pahang and Perak.
“The majority of the syndicate members are based in Ayer Tawar,” he added.
