THREE LEADERS OF ROBBERY GANG SHOT DEAD
Gang preyed on people leaving banks after making large withdrawals, say cops
JOHOR police believe they have crippled a notorious armed robbery gang after shooting dead three men in an incident along the Alor Gajah-Melaka-Jasin Highway yesterday.
State police chief Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said the trio were believed to be the main leaders of a gang which police have sought to bring down for years.
“These people were linked to a series of armed robberies, targeting people exiting banks after making large withdrawals. They usually prey on people outside banks,” Wan Ahmad said.
Police began trailing the trio, who were travelling in a silver-coloured BMW 3 Series in Melaka.
A high-speed chase be- gan when the trio noticed a patrol car behind them. They exited the highway at Parit Bunga with the chase ending under a flyover.
Cornered, at least one of the men began shooting at the police, who returned fire, killing all three in the 9.50am incident.
Traffic in that area came to a three-hour standstill as police special action teams swarmed the area while others blocked civilian access.
Wan Ahmad said as no identification documents were found on the men, police could not determine whether they were locals or foreigners.
He said checks revealed that the vehicle they used had not been reported stolen or involved in previous crimes.
“We seized a revolver, a 12-bore pump gun and a parang in the car. From facial identification, we believe we have crippled an armed robbery gang that had been active in the state and which we have sought to bring down for years,” he said.
Wan Ahmad said the three men shot dead yesterday were linked to a case where two men stole RM50,000 left in a car by a businessman who had just withdrawn the money from a bank in Mount Austin, Johor Baru, on May 29.
“The suspects, who were shot dead, were part of a larger group of robbers who have been active in Johor, Kelantan and other states.