Lawas police crack down on illegal firearms

DANGEROUS ARMS: Anthony (centre) checks the two illegal homemade shotguns as Inspector Saiful Mustafa (left) and Inspector Khairul Anuar Omar look on.

LAWAS: Police here have launched a crackdown on illegal firearms with the arrest of two locals who purchased home-made shotguns from foreigners, including one which nearly ended the life of a fellow hunter recently.

Two of the guns were seized in separate incidents and the suspects have been remanded in police custody pending further investigation into illegal possession and attempted murder.

Lawas OCPD Superintendent Anthony Abell Chelan said both cases involved the purchase of illegal home-made firearms by locals from Indonesian nationals for RM500 and RM300 respectively.

He advised the public in the district against purchasing such illegal firearms from foreign nationals or those coming to the district, warning that heavy penalties await offenders.
“Police will not hesitate to take action against any individuals who are found to be in possession of illegal firearms or carrying them without permits,” he said.

He also advised the public to assist police by providing information which could contribute towards improving security in the district.

In the first case, the suspect was detained by a CID team in Merapok, when a check revealed a home-made shotgun in the vehicle.

Investigations later revealed that the suspect had bought it from an Indonesian national at the Sarawak border near Kampung Muncu in Ulu Merapok for RM500 for use on his farm there.
He was remanded for seven days for investigation of possession of firearms without a permit, and was later released on police bail.

In a separate case, a local was charged under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder with a firearm.

The suspect reportedly shot and caused grievous injuries to a fellow hunter.
He ran away from the scene after the shooting incident but was later arrested by police following the victim’s rescue by villagers who heard his cries, leading to a police report being lodged.

Acting on information, police arrested the suspect and later recovered the shotgun, which was thrown into a river near Demaring forest near a logging road.
Investigations later revealed that it was purchased at RM300 in Ba’ Kelalan near the Lawas-East Kalimantan border.



April 7, 2010, Wednesday