Acid attack motive remains a baffling mystery

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman has not been able to establish the motive behind the acid attack on national footballer Faisal Halim.

Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the police are working hard on the case and to also identify and catch the culprit.

“We are looking at a wider scope in terms of the investigation. We have recorded the statements of several individuals at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

“So far, we have not established the motive behind the three attacks on footballers, including the one on Faisal,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.

In Faisal’s case, Comm Mohd Shuhaily said police have collected several sets of fingerprints from the mall where the attack occurred and issued a photofit of the suspect.

“We are still gathering actionable intelligence on the case. The case is complicated given the lack of public witnesses. It is a challenge and we will not stop until justice is served,” he added.

On claims that police have not been updating Faisal on the case consistently, Comm Mohd Shuhaily said he will check with Selangor police on the matter.

“In terms of the results of the investigation, there is nothing much to update. Nonetheless, we will meet Faisal soon,” he said.

Faisal made his first public appearance since the attack on Thursday, laying bare the horror that he has had to live with for more than a month now.

Faisal, also known as Mickey, suffered an acid attack on May 5 at a shopping mall in Damansara.

Just days prior to the attack, his Harimau Malaya teammate Akhyar Rashid was robbed in Kuala Terengganu and suffered cuts and bruises. On the night of May 7, former national captain Safiq Rahim escaped unhurt after two men broke his rear windscreen in Johor Baru.

The 36-year-old plays for Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).

Police released a photofit of the suspect on May 19.