Police studying CCTV recordings in probe into cop’s murder
SHAH ALAM: Police have obtained closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) recordings from premises near the Pinggiran USJ police station in Taman Perindustrian UEP, Subang Jaya, on the murder of Lance Corporal Valentino Mesa on Thursday.
Selangor police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor said the CCTV recordings were being studied by investigators for clues to shed light on Valentino’s murder.
His body was found with slash and gunshot wounds at the police station at 3.30am on Thursday. His colleagues, who returned from patrol, found him slumped at the station’s information counter.
“We have a few CCTV recordings and are examining them. We hope to pick up clues through the recordings.
“However, we have not obtained anything concrete.
“We are not only studying the CCTV recordings, but also working on other elements that could lead us to gather evidence in the course of the investigation, such as speaking to witnesses as well as members of the public,” Mazlan said
He declined to divulge the motive of the murder, saying that he did not want the investigation to be jeopardised.
“Let us investigate and please do not speculate. Do not jump to conclusions,” he said, adding that Selangor Criminal Investigations Department chief Assistant Commissioner Fadzil Ahmat was leading the investigation.
“We are doing our level best to solve this case. The Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department will be assisting us.”
Asked if there would be more people detained in connection with the case, Mazlan said: “We will wait and see. If there are elements that warrant an arrest, we will do so.”
He dismissed the news that Valentino’s Walther P99 service pistol, believed to have been taken by his attacker, was found.
He urged the media and other parties to refrain from circulating and reporting unverified information.
“If the information is unconfirmed by me, it is mere speculation.
“I will definitely update (the media) when there are new developments.”
He said this after attending the “Korban Gotong Royong” programme at the Selangor police contingent headquarters yesterday.
A 34-year-old suspect from Sarawak has been remanded for seven days from Friday in connection with the case.
He was arrested 16 hours after the incident as he was about to board a flight to Sibu at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 7.30pm.
Valentino, 29, who had served the force for seven years, was attacked with a sharp weapon before being shot execution style in the back at close range.
Initial checks by the police at the scene revealed that the policeman was slashed once on his forehead and sustained at least five more slash wounds in the back of his head.
It is also believed that he was shot in the back while lying face down on the floor after being slashed.
Valentino’s body was sent to Serdang Hospital for a postmortem.
It was reported that Valentino’s body had arrived at the Rumah Maing longhouse, Besai Entaih Entabai, Julau in Sarikei for burial.
Julau district police chief Deputy Superintendent Bidol Noyeng was quoted as saying that Valentino would be buried today.