Illegal immigrants with air gun, pellets nabbed

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KUCHING: The police here confiscated an air gun and a box of lead pellets from two illegal immigrants they arrested in Kampung Mongkos, near Serian, following a tip-off on Tuesday.

Soh (left) showing the confiscated air gun while Sgt Hilary Anchang looks on.

According to General Operations Force (GOF) 11th Battalion commanding officer Supt Soh Hock Sing, the arrest was made around 5.30pm when police officers found the two men within the compound of a vacant house in the village.

“During the search, police discovered that one of them was carrying a bag which contained an air gun, a box of lead pellets as well as a screwdriver and immediately detained them,” he said during a press conference at the GOF headquarters in Batu Kawa here yesterday.

He added that the confiscated air gun was a CAL177 (Model 707) and both men, aged 28 and 32, had been remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“We do not know the intent of these two men, who are from our neighbouring country, to have brought in the air gun, which many would regard as a weapon mainly used for hunting.

“Nevertheless, it is still a weapon that can cause death and the unlawful possession of firearms is one of the violations in our country under Section 8 of the Firearms Act 1960, which carries a jail sentence of seven years, maximum fine of RM10,000, or both if convicted in court,” he said.

Soh also pointed out that thus far, the Batu Kawah GOF personnel had recorded four cases involving the confiscation of six air guns this year.

With the arrest made in Kampung Mongkos being the latest case, the other three cases were in Melikin and areas near the Immigration and Customs Quarantine Complex.

“The confiscated air guns of various models were kept in a vacant house and all arrested individuals have since been charged in court,” he said, adding that none of the air guns were used for criminal purposes.