Lorry driver arrested for discharging air rifle

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KUCHING: Police have arrested a lorry driver who discharged a home-made air rifle at a university student and his elder sister during a road rage incident at Foochow Road No.1 yesterday.

The suspect cornered by policemen.

The suspect was detained around 3.40pm at a fruit stall at Tabuan Laru by a police team following information received on his whereabouts.

The home-made air rifle, believed to have been used during the incident, was found concealed in a storage area and seized along with the suspect’s lorry.

The 50-something suspect was believed to have gone into hiding after the 9.30am incident in which he allegedly fired into the air after initially aiming it at the student’s sister.

District police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad said the 19-year-old student and his sister were travelling in a car when a lorry driven by the suspect knocked their side mirror while overtaking them.

“The student then signalled to the driver to pull over, but he refused to do so and kept on driving. The student then overtook the lorry and slowed down, eventually forcing the driver to halt,” said Roslan.

The OCPD said the student came out of his car to enquire about the damage to the side mirror, but was attacked by the lorry driver, who began punching him on the face and arms.

“The lorry driver then got back into his vehicle and deliberately rammed it into the student’s car before stepping out once more, this time with an air rifle.

“The student said the suspect initially aimed the weapon at his elder sister before discharging it once in the air. He then went back to his lorry and drove off.”

Following a police report lodged by the victim, police traced the lorry’s licence plate number to a 50-something man, who matched the description provided by the student.

Police are investigating the case under Section 323 of the Penal Code and Section 3 of the Firearms Act (Enhanced Penalties) 1971.