By Christy Chok
‘Drug trafficking leader’ shot dead by police in Tawau
TAWAU: Police here shot dead the head of an active drug trafficking group here after a two-kilometer chase and struggle when carrying out ‘Ops Khas Kesan’ at Jalan Tawau Lama, Cowie Bay here at about 11.40pm on Thursday.
Mattarasah bin Atta, 35, who is believed to be using another person’s MyKad, sped off in his car when approached by police at Jalan Apas, sparking a high speed chase towards Jalan Tawau Lama.
District police chief ACP Fadil bin Hj Marsus said the suspect whipped out a six-inch knife and tried to stab a police personnel with it, and this prompted the latter to fire two shots that hit the left side of the suspect’s chest and killed him on the spot.
The police found the knife and two bullet shells at the scene, and this was followed by the discovery of a green plastic bag containing 164 grams of syabu that is worth about RM15,000, a Samsung Note 2 hand phone, a 34-inch shielded Samurai sword and a 20-inch shielded cleaver.
Fadil said the deceased with tattoos all over his body had several criminal records in Tawau and Kota Kinabalu for violence, riot and drug offences from 2013 to 2015.
He had many followers and was aggressive and had been involved in fights at entertainment premises.
Meanwhile, police also carried out five raids and arrested 17 suspects, including eight women aged between 18 and 33, in connection with the case.
The case will be investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code and Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.