Businessman arrested for peddling fake firearms

MELAKA: A 40-year-old businessman peddling fake firearms landed himself in trouble for openly peddling the prohibited items at a night market here.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan (pic) said his team tracked the sales of the firearms after netizens posted pictures of the businessman from Negri Sembilan selling the items openly at the Uptown Pahlawan Walk night market at Banda Hilir.

"We believe the businessman had obtained the supply through online transactions from a toy manufacturing company in China," he said during a press conference at Melaka police headquarters in Bukit Beruang here on Monday (Feb 12).

DCP Abdul Jalil said the businessman had displayed the cache of fake firearms at his shoe stall and sold the items to the public for prices between RM800 and RM1,000.

He said the businessman had been selling the items for two months here before his unlawful activity went viral on social media.

DCP Abdul Jalil said 12 various types of imitation pistols and rifles as well as ammunition were seized from the businessman.

"We detained the businessman last Friday and remanded him for four days to assist investigation under Section 36 (1) of the Firearms Act 1960," he added.

Under the act, those convicted could face up to a year in jail or fine of up to RM5,000 or both.