Penang cops investigating if foul play involved in SB officer's death

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine if any foul play was involved in the death of a special branch officer at a parking lot on Monday (Dec 17).

Penang police chief Comm Datuk Seri A. Thaiveegan said police would reveal the details once investigations were completed.

Sofian Shahari, 47, who was attached with the George Town special branch, was found dead at the parking lot of a building in Pulau Tikus at 4.45am.

It is believed that Sofian went there to celebrate one of his colleague’s birthday at a karaoke outlet at the multi-storey premises.

An initial probe found that Sofian’s footwear and bag were on the second floor of the building and investigators also found traces of a torn curtain on the fourth floor.

Police classified the case as "sudden death".

However, Comm Thaiveegan said the post-mortem report was being studied and the police had yet to determine if Sofian was at the place on official duty or personal reasons.

“It’s good for all not to speculate until the investigations are completed,” he said after a certificate presentation ceremony at the Balik Pulau district police station on Tuesday (Dec 18).