Two nabbed after high-speed chase in Tuaran

KOTA KINABALU: Police opened fire at a car that tried to ram into their mobile patrol vehicle (MPV) then sped off in Tuaran district, about 40km from here.

Tuaran police chief Supt Noraidin Ag Maidin said two suspects, local men in their 30s, were detained after a brief high-speed chase.

The incident occurred after the MPV from the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters spotted a car going against the flow of traffic and in a dangerous manner close to a petrol station in Telipok town, off Jalan Tuaran-Kota Kinabalu near here at 9.29pm on Thursday.

Supt Noraidin said the MPV subsequently tried to intercept and stop the car.

He said the driver instead accelerated and attempted to crash into the police vehicle in order to escape.

“As a result, police fired several shots towards the car to stop it and also in self-defence as well as for the safety of other motorists,” Supt Noraidin said in a statement yesterday.

He said the suspects’ car then sped off towards Taman Sri Rugading, Tuaran, but police managed to catch up and stop the vehicle.

“The suspects attempted to flee on foot, but police managed to nab them.

“We found some equipment related to drug abuse in their car,” Supt Noraidin said.

A background check found that the suspects had prior criminal records, he said, adding that the case was being probed under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.

Supt Noraidin advised the public not to speculate on the incident as it could jeopardise police investigations.