Supt Sammy (second right) and his senior officers showing the items seized from the suspects.
KOTA KINABALU: Police have arrested one of two men who committed a series of armed robberies in three districts.
The suspects, armed with machetes and wearing full-face motorcycle helmets to cover their faces, targeted 24-hour convenience stores in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and Keningau.
Personnel from the Penampang Criminal Investigation Department (CID) tracked down the main suspect during a raid in Papar, about 40km from here, on Tuesday (July 9).
Penampang police chief Supt Sammy Newton said they received a report about a gang robbery at a store off Jalan Penampang on June 16.
He said two men entered the store, with one brandishing a machete and demanding the staff surrender the outlet’s money.
The suspects made off with RM1,081.50 from the safe and a staff member's mobile phone worth an estimated RM2,000.
"The men then escaped on a dark-coloured motorcycle with an indistinguishable registration plate number," he told reporters on Friday (July 12).
Based on information gathered by the Penampang CID and assistance from the Sabah police contingent CID’s special investigation (D9), they managed to locate the main suspect, aged 47.
Supt Sammy said the suspect was jobless and had two previous criminal records involving drugs and brawling.
"Following the arrest, we seized 22 items including two self-made rifles, spent shells, a box containing air rifle bullets, and three machetes.
"Further questioning revealed they had also robbed convenience stores in Tanjung Aru, Luyang, and Keningau.
"We are actively tracking the other suspect, identified as 'Samsul,' who is about 180cm tall," he said, holding up a photofit of the suspect.
Supt Sammy said the suspect still at large is a local and urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact investigating officer Insp Norisyam Syed Putra Arsad at 018-9618072.
The case is being investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for armed gang robbery and the Arms Act 1960.
