Serious Crimes detective suffers multiple burns in dawn attack but forensics rule out foul play

PETALING JAYA: A police detective corporal suffered multiple burns to his face and body after a fire ravaged his car near a hardware store in Jalan Puchong here.

However while he alleged an arson attack, CCTV footage and forensics have yet to confirm foul play.

In Saturday’s incident, the wounded detective and two officers from the Selangor police Serious Crimes department (D9) were meeting a source in Petaling Jaya at around 2am.

The meeting is believed to have wrapped up at about 5am after which the officers proceeded to have breakfast at a restaurant near the Hilton Petaling Jaya Hotel.

They went home around 5.40am.

At about 8.20am, police reportedly received a call from the detective’s wife, alerting them to her husband’s burn injuries which he claimed was a result of attempted arson on his car.

The detective alleged that a man had set his car, a gray Proton Waja ablaze somewhere around Petaling Jaya, causing injuries to his hands, shoulder, back and the left side of his face.

He was also said to have suffered from heavy smoke inhalation.

The detective ran home after the incident and handed over his weapon, wallet and mobile phone to his wife for safekeeping before being sent to the Assunta Hospital for treatment.

It is learnt that he was later admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and his condition has since stabilised.

In another development, Kuala Lumpur CID Chief Senior Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said closed circuit television recording showed that there was no foul play involved in the blaze.

“The burnt-out wreckage of the car was discovered by police some 1km from the detective’s house.

“The forensics team ruled out foul play due to the absence of external combustible materials at the scene,” he added.

However, SAC Gan said that the cause and motive behind the fire are still under investigation.

“We have recorded the statements of four witnesses.

“We are still waiting to record the detective’s statement as he would be able to shed light on the matter,” he explained.

SAC Gan urged anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

The case is being probed under Section 435 of the Penal Code for causing mischief by fire with intent to cause damage.