KOTA KINABALU: Police here have arrested two men over an armed robbery at Plaza Menggatal late last month.
The two suspects, aged between 25 and 27 years old, were picked up from the Inanam new township and Kampung Lobou respectively on September 6, City police chief ACP M Chandra said.
Also recovered from the suspects were the parang and knife that they reportedly used when robbing the 24-hour store in Plaza Menggatal, he said.
According to Chandra, the modus operandi of the two men was to first purchase some snacks from the shop. They would return a short while later armed with the parang and knife to hold up the staff and rob them.
“On August 28, at about 3.48 am, police received a report from the staff of the 24-hour store that an armed robbery had just taken place there. The staff told the investigating officer who went to the scene that two men were involved. They had earlier purchased some snacks and then left the premises. They, however, came back later armed with a parang and a knife and pointed the weapon at the staff. The two men then made off with about 55 packets of Winston and Dunhill cigarettes as well as about RM200 in cash,” Chandra disclosed.
Police investigation led to the arrest of the two men on September 6 and during interrogation, the suspects admitted to committing the crime, he said, adding that police also recovered two handphones, a parang that was used in the crime, two packets of Winston cigarettes and a motorcycle as well as a helmet that was used by the suspects when committing the robbery.
Both men also tested positive for drug abuse and they will be charged under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code which carries a sentence of maximum 20 years jail and caning.
“I would like to remind employees of 24-hour outlets to be wary of patrons who act suspiciously when in the premises, and my advice to the management of these outlets is to install a CCTV which can assist in police investigation should any untoward incident happens,” Chandra said.