MIRI: A 45-year-old pub owner was killed at point-blank by two masked men armed with pistols at Kampung Lusut in Taman Tunku on Tuesday.
In the 10.30pm incident described by some as a ‘Mafia-style’ killing, two masked men suddenly showed up at an illegal cock-fighting ring and fired multiple shots at Chiong Siong Yu.
Both suspects then quickly fled the scene.
Bystanders rushed the critically injured Chiong to Miri Hospital but he died shortly after he arrived.
There were visible gunshot wounds on his right cheek, right temple and left shoulder.
Police recovered nine empty 0.45 calibre cartridges, a pellet and a live bullet at the scene.
Miri police chief ACP Gan Tian Kee confirmed the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
He said a post-mortem would be carried out to ascertain how many shots were actually fired at the victim.
“The police will also investigate the motive of the shooting,” he added.
It could not be confirmed whether the fatal shooting was related to an attempted shooting involving the victim near his business premises here on Dec 3 last year.
It is understood that the illegal cock-fighting ring by day is used as an illegal gambling den at night.
Two years ago, on July 30, pub owner Richard Mah, 48, was gunned down in broad daylight at Jalan Bendahara after his four-wheel drive vehicle was stopped by two men on a motorcycle.
He was shot on his right temple and neck and died at the scene.
Just under three weeks before that on July 12, a gunman, believed to be armed with a shotgun, killed Ang Seng Hoon, 30, and injured Ho Leong Hee, 60, while they were dining at Green Heights in Kuching.
In June last year, a businessman in his 30s managed to escape an attempt on his life at the Centre Point Commercial Centre.
A man emerged from the front passenger side of a dark-coloured 4WD vehicle and shot at the businessman, who managed to run to safety.
Police later found a wall at the crime scene peppered with bullet holes and labelled the incident as due to “business dissatisfaction”.