Cops gun down ex-EO detainee

Santhana was shot while driving in Bukit Mertajam. 

(The Malay Mail) - When a policeman asked him for his identity card, the hardcore criminal whipped out asemi-automatic gun and fired three shots at the policeman. “Luckily, none of the shots hit the policeman,” Mohmad said. 

At the age of eight, he was hauled up by police and given counselling for juvenile misdemeanours.

Soon, he led a life of a gangster and got involved in petty crimes such as motorcycle thefts.

Seven years later, at the age of 15, he was spending time in lock-up for petty crimes.

By the time he turned 30, he had been in and out of the Simpang Rengam detention centre five times under the Emergency Ordinance.

Yesterday morning, the career criminal was involved in the 15th shooting incident in recent weeks and ended up being shot dead by the police.

City police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh said the man, aged 35, was stopped at a roadblock at 2am near Desa Kepong while driving a stolen Toyota Vios.

When a policeman asked him for his identity card, the hardcore criminal whipped out a semi-automatic gun and fired three shots at the policeman.

“Luckily, none of the shots hit the policeman,” Mohmad said. 

The man sped off for at least 50 metres before he stopped and attempted to hijack a parked van.

“The driver of the van, a contractor, was taking a nap by the roadside. The other police officers, who were manning the roadblock, chased and opened fire at the man three times, hitting him in his leg, shoulder and stomach,” Mohmad said.

He collapsed to the ground and was taken to Selayang Hospital where he died at 2.45pm.

Mohmad said the man had 15 criminal records for offences such as robberies, use of firearms, theft and drug-related cases.

The vehicle used by him bore a fake registration number. Checks later revealed the car was stolen in Bukit Mertajam earlier this year.

Police also recovered six ski-masks and a fake pistol in the vehicle.

“Initial investigations reveal  he could have been involved in several house robberies where the victims were tied up while the suspect and his accomplice ransacked the house,” Mohmad said. 

Police are tracking down the man’s accomplices.