Careless cop back on duty

Police have opened investigation into the shooting incident that involved a police officer discharging his gun accidentally and hurting a 10-year-old child.

PETALING JAYA: The police officer who accidentally shot and critically wounded a 10-year-old boy in Kampung Belanja Kiri Parit, Perak two days ago while cleaning his gun, is back on duty.

However, a police source in the Perak Police Contingent told FMT that although the officer is back to work, the investigation is still ongoing; while asserting that the officer’s gun has been seized.

“The officer is back to work but we have opened the investigation paper.

“We seized the gun and once the investigation is complete the officer will be charged,” the source said while confirming that the mishap was an offence under the Firearm Act 1971.

Last Tuesday, 10-year-old Mohd Amar Mohd Azizi was 40 metres away from the officer’s mother-in-law’s house when he was shot around 4.30pm.

Amar was rushed to the Batu Gajah Hospital before being transferred to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital to seek further medical attention. He is to undergo surgery to remove the slug lodged in his throat.

Meanwhile, the neurosurgeon Dr Cheang Chee Keong attached with the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital said an X-ray revealed that the bullet penetrated the boy’s nose on the right side before entering his throat.

The bullet is currently stuck between the boy’s skull bone and neck.

Dr Cheang said that the victim was lucky the bullet missed the nerve spine.

“The boy is lucky. The bullet was one centimeter away from his spine. He could have been paralyzed should the bullet hit his nerve spine,” Cheang said.

The doctor added that his medical team is at the moment in discussion with every expert in the country to look for the best alternative to remove the bullet in the safest way.

“We are still in talks with all experts to find the best way to remove the slug. We would perform the operation depending on the victim’s condition,” Cheang added.

It is learned that Amar’s condition is improving despite sustaining serious neck injury.