Eight remanded over shooting case

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KOTA SAMARAHAN: Eight persons comprising five Marine Operations Force (MOF) personnel and three civilians were yesterday placed on a seven-day remand to facilitate investigation into a shooting case at a premises in Kota Samarahan, believed to be an illegal cyber gambling den.

Classified by the police as attempted murder, the crime allegedly happened on Sunday morning.

The remand applications were submitted yesterday before Samarahan assistant administration officer Paul Joring Nyyon at his office here.

The five police personnel aged between 35 and 45 were arrested on Sunday night when the shooting happened while the other three were arrested yesterday morning.

State Police Commissioner Dato Wira Muhammad Sabtu Osman in a press statement yesterday said there was one person who was hurt in the incident and the victim shot was believed to be one of the suspects in the case.

“Further investigation and tip-off from members of the public revealed the victim who got shot and his friends were attempting to rob the premises.

“During the incident, five policemen who were not in uniform were at the scene and one of them opened fire,” he said, adding that the police detained all of them and seized their gun for investigation.

“It is still too soon to make a conclusion until the investigation is completed. All the suspects will be remanded today,” he said in the statement. Mohammad Sabtu confirmed that the victim shot was still receiving treatment in hospital.

“There were two gunshot wounds on his body and not 14 shots as reported. The police will investigate the case thoroughly and will not cover up any act committed by the five (policemen) suspects,” he stressed.

The case is classified under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder. It was reported that the 20-year-old victim from Kampung Merdang Gayam was sent to SGH Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan before being referred to SGH Kuching.

The alleged victim suffered gunshot wounds on his right cheek and lower part of his abdomen. His father lodged a police report upon knowing of his son’s ordeal and condition.

It was also reported that another person was injured after being beaten up with a wooden object.