Two suspects in killing of policeman surrender
PETALING JAYA: Two men implicated in the killing of a policeman on the trail of smuggling and underworld activities in Bukit Kayu Hitam have surrendered.
The men had earlier gone into hiding following the killing of Sub Inspector Abu Hashim Ismail, 54, at about 10.25pm on Friday at an acquaintance’s house in Taman Sri Hosba, Changloon, Kedah.
Abu Hashim, who was on leave, is believed to be close to retirement.
Kubang Pasu district police chief Superintendent Mohd Ismail Ibrahim said the duo – Mohd Hatta Johari, 30, and Mohd Najib Budin, 36 – were arrested when they turned themselves in at 4pm and 6pm respectively yesterday.
Kedah police chief Comm Datuk Asri Yusoff said it was believed that Abu Hashim, a CID detective in Bukit Aman, had gone to the house of an acquaintance to obtain information on smuggling and underworld activities in the Bukit Kayu Hitam area.
Comm Asri said Abu Hashim was seated on the porch of the corner house and chatting with his acquaintance when a gunman approached and fired several shots at them.
Abu Hashim died at the scene with four shots to his back while the 35-year-old acquaintance managed to duck under a table.
“We stormed the two men’s houses after the shooting but they had fled,” he told reporters at the state police headquarters here earlier yesterday.
Police, said Comm Asri, found five bullet casings and three bullet slugs at the house.
The body has been sent to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Setar for post-mortem.
Abu Hashim’s acquaintance has been remanded for a week.
It was reported that a special team from Bukit Aman, including the Special Taskforce on Organised Crime, had been sent to Kedah to help in the investigation and manhunt.
On another case, Comm Asri said police shot dead a “Gang 36” leader during a 7.30am raid on a house at Lagenda Heights, Sungai Petani, yesterday.
“When my men went to the house and introduced themselves, the suspect ran upstairs and hid in a toilet.
“He shot at the policemen, who returned fire and killed the man,” he said, adding that the suspect was in his 30s.
Police found 62.4g of marijuana, 27.8g of heroin and a Bernardelli pistol in the house.