A pattern in the attacks

KUALA LUMPUR: Three attacks in six days, with the assailants working in pairs and striking with what seems to be a well-planned assault.

A pattern seems to be emerging in the recent attacks against national football players, say the police.

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Terengganu’s Akhyar Rashid was the first victim last Thursday night, followed by Selangor winger Faisal Halim, who suffered an acid attack last Sunday, while Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Safiq Rahim was attacked in Johor Baru yesterday. All three are in the national team.

Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said they have noticed that the attacks occurred in two-day intervals.

“Our investigations also show that the players involved were tailed prior to the attacks. The assailants also worked in pairs in all three cases,” he told reporters yesterday.

Based on the attacks, he said it seems like there had been some preparations prior to the attacks.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily, however, said it is too early for police to say if the cases are all connected.

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“We have made two arrests so far in connection with the Faisal Halim case.

“One suspect has been released while the other is still under remand.

“The investigations are ongoing and we have yet to establish if the suspect in our custody is involved in this case,” he said.

Explaining why the Bukit Aman CID Special Investigation Unit took over the case, Comm Mohd Shuhaily said this was done so all investigations could be coordinated.

“The cases occurred in three states: Terengganu, Selangor and Johor.

“Seeing that the cases all occurred in other states, we decided that Bukit Aman should coordinate the probes,” he said, adding that they are also looking at the possibility that the cases were connected to the poison pen letter on the Football Association of Malaysia last month.

The letter contained several allegations, some concerning abuse of power in the association, exorbitant salaries and benefits for staff, issues involving the Harimau Malaya squad and the national training centre project.

The FAM leadership had come under criticism following the circulation of the poison pen letter and the recent unsatisfactory performance of the national senior and Under-23 squads.

The Malaysia lost all its matches in the recent Under-23 Asian Cup, while the senior team lost 0-2 to Oman in World Cup/Asian Cup qualifiers on March 22.

On the suspect now under remand, Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the individual has seven cases on his record.

“The suspect has been arrested for misuse of network facilities, voluntarily causing hurt using a dangerous weapon, gang robbery, impersonating a civil servant, criminal intimidation and extortion,” he said, while advising all players to be more cautious of their surroundings.