SHOT BY GUNMEN: Musa Hasan's anti-crime chief in critical condition, time for tell-all

It looks like the accusations by former police chief Musa Hassan and his anti-crime watchdog body that underworld syndicates had infiltrated the police force and that top politicians were interfering in police work have touched a sore spot.

R Sri Sanjeevan, the chairman of My Watch or The Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force, was shot at close range at 4.30pm yesterday at Taman Cempaka, Bahau.

Unknown gunmen on a motorbike had made an attempt on his life. At press time, he was in a critical state in the Jempol hospital and is expected to be transferred to the Kuala Pilah hospital today.

Time to tell all

Musa, the former Inspector-General of Police who is the patron of MyWatch, had shocked the nation last year when he made public his allegations. During his time as the police chief, the scandal-tainted Musa too had been accused of being connected to underworld chiefs and protecting them from prosecution. He retired in 2009 and has tried to redeem his image by participating in several anti-crime crusades.

"This is terrible news and I hope that Musa Hassan will come out and reveal more of the truth. Don't keep any more secrets. If they dare to go after Sanjeevan today, who will be next tomorrow?" PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

Gunmen came on a motorbike

According to the NST, Sanjeevan had gone out with his friend, Ramesh Balakrishnan, 35, for a drink after picking up the latter at his house.

“The two were in Sanjeevan’s silver BMW when he (Sanjeevan) stopped at a junction near Taman Awana Indah and wound down the car window for a smoke," Jempol police chief Supt Hamzah Alias had said.

“Two assailants on a red motorcycle rode up next to him. The pillion rider then fired a shot at Sanjeevan’s right rib."

Hamzah said the pillion rider then got off the motorcycle and walked towards Sanjeevan but Sanjeevan managed to speed off despite having sustained a gunshot wound.

“The victim despite being badly injured, managed to drive off, leaving the suspects behind. The suspects then left the crime scene and rode away towards the road leading to Rompin.” “ added the police chief.

Sanjeevan then drove some 300m from the scene before pulling over for his friend to take over the wheel.

“His friend (Ramesh), then moved him to the passenger’s seat before taking and driving to the Jempol Hospital,” said Hamzah.

According to Hamzah, the police have yet to establish the motive behind the attempted murder.

“So far there have been no leads or suspects. Investigation is ongoing,” he said, adding that a special task force had been set up by the Negri Sembilan police headquarters to probe the case, which is being investigated under section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.

It was reported in January that Sanjeevan claimed he received a death but brushed it off as part of the risk that came with the role he assumed.

Sanjeevan had claimed someone called him from a unknown warning him to watch his back as he had “stepped on too many toes”.

Tip of the iceberg: Gambling, prostitution, money laundering 

MyWatch had also claimed that it possessed evidence that top police officers were involved in criminal activities, including money laundering, gambling, prostitution and have direct links with underworld figures and kingpins.

Several recent cases including a robbery at a clinic where a Tan Sri had to whip out his gun and shoot dead one of the thieves have reignited public clamoring for tougher action against crime including the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

IPCMC advocates believe its formation will  to help curb out-of-control crime by cleaning up and making more effective the police force.

Suspicion was also reignited that the main objection to the IPCMC's formation by Prime Minister Najib Razak's government was a reluctance to upset the big-time underworld chiefs whose connections and network into the police force ran deep and wide due to decades of inaction by the government.

"We have said it too many times, there is no plausible reason for Najib and the government to keep denying that crime is up. They should also stop refusing to set up the IPCMC. What are they afraid of? Are they worried that if an IPCMC is formed, the testimony that comes from the cops themselves might reveal the true state of affairs in the force," said Jui Meng.

"I believe the majority of the police would prefer to work in an environment that is free from the influence of the syndicates and the politicians. But they have no choice because they have to work under bosses who are not clean or are compromised."

Malaysia Chronicle