Shoot us, suspects challenge police during inspection

KOTA KINABALU: Two suspected criminals challenged the police to shoot them after they were stopped for inspection in Luyang.

Policemen on patrol had noticed a car with the men inside behaving suspiciously at the Tun Fuad Stephens Park early Thursday.

City police chief Asst Comm M Chandran said the men tried to hide their faces when confronted and even shouted tembaklah kalau berani (shoot is you dare).

As the suspects tried to drive away, they knocked into several cars and the policemen's motorcycle.

“Police had no choice but to fire four shots at the tyres of the car to try and stop the suspects from escaping. But they managed to flee,” ACP Chandran said.

The incident left a crowd of morning joggers dumbfounded by the commotion and gunshots.

Another police team was sent to chase after the suspects who abandoned their car near an international school some 500m away.

Police are on the hunt for the duo, one of whom was identified as Samri Samsul, 28, an ex-convict and a wanted criminal for car break-in cases around Luyang.

“Samri is out on bail pending trials of a break-in and narcotics cases,” ACP Chandran said.