Robbery suspect injured, accomplice escapes after car chase

KOTA KINABALU: A robber was injured in an accident as he and his accomplice were fleeing from the police in their car yesterday.

The Perodua Viva car of the suspects collided with a fourwheel drive vehicle at the Tebobon traffic lights in Menggatal while turning into the Puri Wawasan junction about 1.20pm.

They were being pursued by the police after allegedly breaking into a house at Kampung Lok Batik in Tuaran. One of them was subsequently arrested after the accident.

Acting Tuaran police chief ASP Juraimah, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said the duo was believed to have broken into the house at Kampung Lok Batik.

A house owner at the village, who is a retiree, said he spotted the two suspects opening the window of the house as he was about to pray at 5.10am.

On realising that their presence was exposed, the suspects immediately f led in their car. The house owner subsequently discovered that his Caiho brand wristwatch and the keys of his Toyota vehicle were missing.

In their haste to f lee from the scene, the duo left behind a cap and a pair of slippers near the fence of the house.

At about 11.30am, the police were informed by the public that the suspects’ car was spotted in Tuaran town. Their car was then tracked down at Kampung Mengkabong by a police patrol car.

When the police tried to detain the vehicle and suspects, they stepped on the gas pedal and fled towards Jalan Sepanggar. A car pursuit ensued around 1pm.

The pursuit ended when the suspects’ car entered the opposite lane and tried to turn into the Puri Wawasan junction near the Tebobon traffic lights where it collided with an Isuzu D-Max vehicle that was heading from Penampang to Kota Belud.

The driver of the car managed to escape on foot towards Taman Puri Wawasan, while the other suspect who was found unconscious in the passenger seat with injuries to his knees, was apprehended by the police.

Both vehicles were damaged in the accident, but the driver of the Isuzu D-Max was reportedly unhurt.

Juraimah said the case would be investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code and called on the public to provide information to facilitate in the investigation.