BANDAR PUTERI JAYA, Kedah: The third suspect in a series of armed robberies has died during a shootout with the police in Bandar Puteri Jaya, just hours after the two others were killed in a similar shootout in Jitra.
The 34-year-old man was fatally shot at 7.50pm on Saturday (Jul 5), according to acting director of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Fadil Marsus.
“The suspect, originally from Perak, was a member of a robbery gang involved in armed heists across four states in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said, as quoted by the New Straits Times.
Attempts were made to arrest him, but he resisted and a shootout ensued, leading to his death,” he told reporters at the scene.
Fadil added that Bukit Aman CID was leading a special investigation in collaboration with several state contingents and all branches of the Royal Malaysia Police.
A pistol and several other items were recovered from the suspect, who had more than 30 prior criminal records.
Fadil said police believe the suspect was also a key member of a criminal group, comprising over a dozen members, responsible for a string of armed robberies, gangsterism and drug trafficking dating back to 2022, which caused losses estimated at nearly RM6 million (US$1.4 million), according to the Malay Mail.
The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code.
Fadil also added that the case was linked to an earlier shootout with police at KM38 of the North-South Expressway near Bandar Darul Aman in Jitra, which occurred at 8.05am on Saturday.
The incident reportedly unfolded when a team from the Kedah and Bukit Aman CID who were patrolling the area, noticed two suspicious-looking men in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and attempted to stop it for inspection.
The suspects refused to comply and instead opened fire, prompting officers to return fire.
One of the suspects, aged 41, had a past record of 41 criminal-related offences, according to Kedah police chief Fisol Salleh, as quoted in the New Straits Times.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/third-armed-robbery-suspect-killed-kedah-police-shootout-linked-us14-million-crime-spree-5222721
