Local arrested over hotel robbery
KOTA KINABALU: Police arrested a local man on suspicion of staging an armed robbery at a hotel in Gaya Street here last month.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra said the 23-year-old suspect was detained by police from the Criminal Investigation Department, 15 hours after he and his accomplice, who is still at large, robbed the hotel around 2.30am on June 28.
“Police investigation revealed that one of the suspects had entered the hotel pretending to be a customer and asking if there was any room for rent.
“When the receptionist told him there was no more room, the suspect pulled out a sharp object and threatened the receptionist.
“The suspect then fled with RM1,163 in a waiting Proton Saga FLX,” said Chandra yesterday.
He said that following a police report lodged by the victim, police raided a house at Kampung Unggun Jaya in Manggatal around 5.30pm the same day.
Chandra said the suspect had three previous criminal records but his urine tested negative for drugs.
He said the police had launched a manhunt for the second suspect and mastermind of the case, identified as Shawal Haizam bin Shamsuddin @ Boy, 37, also from Kampung Unggun Jaya, Manggatal.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspect should immediately contact Investigating Officer, Inspector Izwan Abdul Ran at 013-7275484 or the police hotline at 088-242111 or the nearest police station, said Chandra.