Snatch thieves fatally stab cook

BATU PAHAT: A 47-year-old cook has died from injuries sustained when she was stabbed during a snatch theft incident in Taman Sutera, Yong Peng.

Tan Chi Ann (pic), a mother of three, was riding home from work after the night shift at a restaurant in Yong Peng town when the incident happened at around 1.25am yesterday.

Members of the public found Tan lying at the side of the road with stab wounds and contacted the police and an ambulance.

Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Wahib Musa said Tan died at around 3am from the wounds to her chest.

“We are intensifying our efforts to track down the suspects, including reviewing footage from several CCTVs in the area,” he said.

He added that the initial investigation showed that Tan was a victim of snatch theft.

The police believe more than one suspect, riding motorcycles, were involved in the robbery.

Based on CCTV footage, ACP Abdul Wahib said the victim was approached by the suspects with one of them attempting to grab her handbag.

“She put up a fight and was stabbed in the process,” ACP Abdul Wahib said, adding that the handbag strap was found not far from the victim’s motorcycle.

He said the victim’s body was sent to Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital for a post-mortem and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

He urged those with information to come forward or call the state police hotline at 07-221 2999.