KOTA KINABALU: Police here have launched a manhunt for two men, suspected of being criminals, who not only challenged the police officer to ‘shoot them’, but had also threaten public safety.
The incident took place at the car park area of the popular Bukit Padang jogging park when the two men in a Perodua Myvi rammed a policeman’s motorcycle and four parked cars at around 7 am on Thursday.
City police chief, ACP M. Chandra, confirmed the incident and said that four gunshots were fired by the police officer in an effort to stop the two men in the car from fleeing the scene.
“Despite the police officer firing four shots at the Perodua Myvi car’s tyres, the suspected criminals continued to flee from the scene. The car was later found abandoned near an international school about a kilometre away.
“We have identified one of the two men, who is an ex-convict and a wanted person for other recent crimes,” he said, during a press conference at the city police headquarters in Karamunsing here yesterday.
The suspect has been identified as ex-convict and wanted criminal, Samri Samsul, 28, who is believed to be involved in several car-break-ins in Luyang and is currently out on bail following court trials for a break-in and a narcotics case.
Chandra added that police were also trying to establish if the woman owner of the Perodua Myvi car, that was seized, had any links with the suspects as there has been no report of the vehicle being stolen.
“Initial investigations showed that the seized vehicle had a fake plate number and belongs to a woman,” he said, adding that they were still trying to identify the second suspect in the car.
Relating the incident, Chandra said, a policeman on patrol had spotted the two men acting suspiciously inside the car at around 7 am at the car park area of the Bukit Padang jogging park.
“The policeman then went to check and knocked on the car window. The two men, however, refused to let the police inspect them and immediately reversed the car in their attempt to escape.
“In their bid to escape, they also rammed into four other parked vehicles and the policeman’s motorcycle. One of the men even challenged the policeman to shoot at them by yelling “tembaklah kalau berani” (shoot, if you dare) during their attempt to escape,” said Chandra, adding that the policeman fired four shots towards the tyres of the car.
Later, when the car was found abandoned, police found a meat cleaver and several tools believed used by the suspected criminals for their car break-in activity.
Chandra also confirmed that no untoward incident had occurred and a manhunt has been launched for the two suspected criminals.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty.
Also present were deputy city police chief, SP Mohd Azhar Hamin and CID chief, DSP Nor Azizulkifli Mansor