Remand of trio over shooting spree extended

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The three men leaving the courtroom after the remand application yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: The Magistrate’s Court here extended for two days an order to remand three local men, aged between 25 and 36, who police believe were involved in the drive-by shooting spree around the state capital recently.

Magistrate Herlina Muse granted the application to extend the remand period of the mechanic, tow truck driver and workshop owner, made by prosecuting officer Inspector Azaman Hamat.

The remand order was issued in chambers under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to facilitate police investigation into their alleged involvement in the shooting incident.

The case is being investigated under Section 32 of the Arms Act 1960 on offence for use and possession of arms and imitation arms in certain cases.

According to their counsel, P.J Perira, the suspects have just been released on police bail on February 4 from a six days remand at the Penampang police station.

However, the police had filed an application to extend the remand for another two days at the Karamunsing police station, he added.

In the incident on January 10 this year, a group of individuals believed to be teenagers caused unnecessary public alarm when they went around shooting at 46 premises in the state capital with what the police believed were air guns loaded with marbles.

The group was said to have moved around in three vehicles shooting at premises along their way with the air guns in the city centre, Inanam, Luyang and Penampang between 11.45pm on January 10 until 6am on January 11.

The premises affected were banks, hotels, beauty salons, restaurants, offices, a petrol station, car showrooms and shopping malls with losses estimated in the hundreds and thousands of ringgit.

No known casualty was however reported in the incident, which reportedly brought about some degree of panic and apprehension in the social media networks, i.e. Facebook and WhatsApp.

On January 29, this year, police arrested five individuals who they believe would be ableto assist them in the investigation of these cases.