26th May, Wesak Day, was a day many were looking forward to as it was a day off in the middle of the week. However, a couple was seemingly planning a heist instead. Suffice to say, it did not go as planned.
The heist devolved into a car chase that ended when one suspect jumped off a 6m-high embankment and died. A policeman who was involved in the chase also shot himself in the arm and had to be hospitalised.
The incident took place in Taman Len Seng, Cheras at 10:45pm on 25th May. According to Cheras police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Mokhsein Mohamed Zon, a police team was on patrol when they spotted a parked Perodua Myvi car at Cheras Sentral. The car drew red flags as the couple inside were acting suspiciously. When they approached the car for inspection, the driver of the Myvi rammed the car into the patrol vehicle to make his escape.
The policemen pursued the Myvi, following it into Taman Len Seng. There the suspect’s car collided with the police vehicle again. “The policeman (a 30-year-old corporal) who was seated in the passenger’s seat trained his gun at the Myvi’s tires but accidentally shot himself as the suspect repeatedly rammed into the policemen’s car,” Mohamed Mokhsein said. The corporal was shot in his right arm and has been hospitalised at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HTCM UKM).
The suspect tried to escape on foot. He ran 300 meters before leaping off a 6m-high embankment. Police found him unconscious on the ground. “An ambulance was called to the scene but he was declared dead,” Mohamed Mokhsein stated. “A background check on the suspect also showed that he had a criminal record with 25 past offences, including for armed robbery, break-ins, attempted murder and drug-related offences.”
The suspect’s girlfriend was successfully detained. Inspection of the car had resulted in the findings of various tools believed to be used to break into houses and shops. It was also discovered that the car was actually a stolen vehicle, which had been reported missing in Kajang. Additionally, police arrested three other men with her help, including an Indonesian and Myanmar nationals. The trio are suspected to be involved in shop and house break-in cases.
All suspects, aged 30 to 48, are being remanded under Section 307 (attempted murder) and 457 (housebreaking) of the Penal Code to help in investigations. The male suspect’s body was sent to HTCM UKM for post-mortem.
Sources: The Sun Daily, New Straits Times, China Press
