Cops nab Melaka man and his disabled son for armed robbery

MELAKA: Police detained a man and his 12-year-old disabled son following an armed robbery at a 24-hour convenience store in Batu Berendam here.

However, the teenager was freed on a police bail shortly after his arrest due to his status as a handicap person.

Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit said his detectives tracked both the 32-year-old man and his son a few hours after they staged the robbery at 1.30pm on Dec 23.

"Both of them were detained at Bukit Piatu here in the late evening on the same day," he said on Sunday (Dec 25).

ACP Christopher Patit said the man had brought along his son, who is a slow learner under the category of a disabled person, to the shop at Taman Sutera in Batu Berendam here under the pretext of buying things.

"The man then brandished a knife and threatened the cashier at the side of the payment counter before grabbing RM197 in cash and three boxes of cigarettes," he said.

ACP Christopher Patit said cash of RM187 and a cigarette box were retrieved from the man upon his arrest.

He said the man was remanded until Dec 28 to assist the investigation under Section 395 and Section 397 of the Penal Code for committing gang and armed robbery.

ACP Christopher Patit said the man had three previous criminal records relating to crime and drug abuses.

CCTV footage shared by Melaka Tengah police showed that the man brandished the knife before rushing to the back of the counter to rob the cashier while his son was just standing at the front while witnessing his father in action.