BETONG: Police arrested two locals, including a woman, who are suspected to be involved in vehicle theft in Tatau and in an attempted murder of policemen in Mukah.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri confirmed that the arrests took place around 1pm in Betong yesterday (June 4).
A team from the Betong Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrested a 38-year-old man at Betong Hospital, who was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds to his right arm and right waist.
Police also nabbed a 34-year-old woman in connection with the cases.
“Background checks found that the male suspect had 10 prior records for vehicle theft, obstructing civil servants from performing their duties and attempted murder.
“The cases are being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft and Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder,” he said.
Shedding light on the incident, Mohd Azman said the vehicle theft involved a Toyota Fortuner, which was reported stolen around 1.10 am by unidentified suspects at Pasar Baru Tatau.
Later, at around 3.40 am, Tatau CID encountered three vehicles — a Toyota Fortuner, a Toyota, and a Perodua Viva —that appeared suspicious along KM82, Jalan Sibu-Bintulu in Mukah.
“When the police approached the vehicles, the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Fortuner suddenly accelerated towards the officers.
“Faced with this dangerous situation, the police were forced to fire several shots at the tyres of the two vehicles in an attempt to halt their escape. Unfortunately, the suspects managed to evade the police and fled the scene.
“The vehicles then accelerated through a roadblock set up by Selangau police, about 300 metres from the first encounter,” Mohd Azman said, adding that the collision endangered the lives of the police officers stationed there.
He added that the police remain focused on their task and continued to pursue the fleeing vehicles.
Eventually, they discovered that the Toyota Fortuner had crashed by the roadside and the suspects managed to escape in the Toyota Hilux.
The crashed Toyota Fortuner was subsequently seized and it was confirmed to be the stolen vehicle reported from Pasar Baru Tatau.
Mohd Azman appealed for information related to the incidents, urged the public to channel any information to investigating officer Insp Mohd Hafez A Razak at 012-9677525.
Mohd Azman also advised the public to refrain from speculating on the incidents.
