Police to probe incident involving ex-soldier at army camp

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) will leave it to the police to investigate the case of an exsoldier who tried to snatch the rifle of a soldier on duty at the entrance of the Seberang Takir Camp in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu.

Armed Forces Chief Gen Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor said the investigations should be done by the police as it involved a civilian.

“I can confirm that the suspect is an exsoldier.

“We are not sure of the motive for the attack. The suspect may have been under the influence of drugs or suffers a mental problem.

“I leave it to the police to conduct an investigation and I congratulate the army staff there for being alert. This is the attitude that every member of the force who guards a camp must have,” he said yesterday.

In Kuala Terengganu, state CID chief ACP Wan Abd Aziz Wan Hamzah said the exsoldier was detained by military personnel at the camp on Friday and handed over to police.

He said that in the 1.55pm incident, the suspect arrived at the camp on a motorcycle wearing a crash helmet and covering his face with a piece of black cloth.

He said the suspect, aged 41, then left the motorcycle outside the guard post and dashed at the guard, saying he wanted to meet the assistant commanding officer of the camp.

“He acted wildly and aggressively, brandishing a nineinch long knife at the neck of the guard, and a struggle ensued, resulting in the victim being injured in the back of his neck where he was cut by the knife.

“The suspect also tried to snatch the guard’s weapon, but another soldier broke up the struggle and sought help,” he said.

Wan Abd Aziz said the suspect, who was from Kampung Pak Kancil, Setiu, was then detained by the victim’s colleagues before he was handed over to police.

“Initial investigations show the suspect is an exsoldier and was dismissed in 2007 for mental problems.

“The victim, aged 29, from Kuala Kangsar, Perak, was taken to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu, and received three stitches under his ear, he said.

He said the suspect had been remanded for four days and police were trying to determine his motive. — Bernama