Policeman shoots himself dead in front of colleagues

SIBU: A 48-year lance corporal shot himself dead in front of his shocked colleagues at the Bintulu police station early Wednesday (June 19).

The deceased was identified as Benjamin Sagakkan Nyalipan.

Bintulu OCPD Supt Zulipli Suhaili said in the early morning incident, the deceased was with four other police officers who had just reported for duty for the 12.05am-8am shift.

"During the roll call, when all of them were had just taken firearms from the store, the deceased loaded his gun and pointed it at a colleague before putting it under his chin and fired three shots.

"Our investigations revealed that the deceased had a heated quarrel with his wife over financial matters a day earlier," he said.

The deceased's 43-year-old wife is a lance corporal at the same police station.

According to Supt Zulipli, the deceased, who had been assigned to the Bintulu police station since January 1, 2007, had previous disciplinary records.

He was given a discharge not amounting to acquittal by the courts on Aug 25, 2012, for an offence under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

He was also fined RM500 in default six months' jail by the courts on Aug 9, 2018, for an offence under Section 3 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1962.

Supt Zulipli said the deceased was subsequently suspended from duty after receiving the sentence. He reported back to work on January 28 this year.

"He was also given counselling on Aug 16 and 17, 2018, at the station," he added.

The case, he said, had been classified as sudden death. - Star