TAWAU: A man high on the ‘most wanted’ list of criminals was shot dead by police at an old building block at Kampung Titingan here about 5.50am yesterday.
The man, who had committed more than 20 crime cases here, was gunned down after he tried to attack a police team with a samurai sword.
The ‘wanted’ man of Bajau-Suluk descent, notoriously known as Herman, 28, is believed to be a foreigner and not in possession of any identity card or passport, and had committed various cases of robbery and theft, causing hurt and drugs abuse in Tawau. He had previously been arrested by the police and charged in court in 2014 and 2015 for several crimes.
Tawau police chief ACP Fadil bin Hj Marsus said a police team comprising narcotics and crime investigation department (CID) personnel moved into the area after receiving information about the suspect’s presence in the area.
When they tried to apprehend him, a slight scuffle broke out.
The man then became aggressive and attacked the police with a samurai sword. The police in defence of their lives fired several shots at him with two shots hitting him on his chest.
Fadil said a samurai sword, screwdriver, axe, spade, wire cutter and arrows and house-breaking tools were seized from the criminal, who police also believed is a leader of a crime gang with around eight members who were very violent and aggressive.
“We are now tracking down the remaining gang members,” he said, adding the police were still checking the criminal’s fingerprint records to confirm his identity.