09/08/2025

SATURDAY | AUG 9, 2025 5 Cop killed after being rammed by SUV ALOR SETAR: A police corporal was killed after he was rammed by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by robbers who were fleeing midway of robbing a house at Taman Golf. Kedah police chief Commissioner Adzli Abu Shah said Cpl Mohd Hafizul Izham Mazlan, 35, died at the scene after he was struck by an SUV with four suspects on board. “At 3.30pm, police received a tip-off regarding a suspected house burglary. A team of five officers and personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was dispatched to the location in two vehicles. “Upon arrival, the victim, who had just stepped out of the car, was rammed by the suspects who were attempting to flee. He sustained severe head and body injuries and died at the scene.” A suspect was arrested at the scene, while three others fled in the same vehicle but were later apprehended in Kepala Batas, after they hijacked the vehicle of an elderly couple at a hotel. “They forcibly removed the male driver and took off with his wife, who was seated in the front passenger seat. “The vehicle was later involved in an accident in Kepala Batas, where police apprehended all remaining suspects in the surrounding area.” He added that the suspects, aged 24 to 26, would be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, and Section 457 of the same Code for housebreaking. – Bernama RTD seize 10 luxury vehicles in N.Sembilan SEREMBAN: The Road Transport Department (RTD) seized 10 luxury vehicles in Negeri Sembilan following the owners’ failure to renew their road tax and insurance from January until early this month. State RTD director Hanif Yusabra Yusof said some of the cars, worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit, had not had their road tax and insurance renewed for almost two years. “Among the owners are business people. If they comply with all the regulations, the vehicles will be returned. The excuse given was that they ‘forgot’ to renew the road tax and insurance. “Such excuses are unacceptable. All the vehicles have been sent to the RTD depot for further investigation under the Road Transport Act 1987 and relevant regulations.” Hanif said the main offences that led to the seizure were under Section 23(1), Section 26(1) and Section 90(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. – Bernama Boy falls into quarry, drowns while fishing BALING: A Year Six pupil drowned after falling into a sand quarry while fishing with two friends in Taman Mesra Ria, Kupang. Baling Fire and Rescue Station chief Assistant Fire Superintendent Zulkhairi Mat Tanjil said the victim, Muhammad Farish Syazwi Mohamad Sukri, 12, was believed to have slipped while fishing and fell into the quarry. “The fire department received a call about the incident at 4.30pm on Thursday and deployed a team of six personnel to the location. “The team immediately began searching for the victim using surface search techniques in the water at the scene.” He added that after two hours of search and rescue efforts with the Royal Malaysia Police and members of the public, the boy was found about 3km from where he was believed to have fallen. “The victim was discovered at 6.25pm by his uncle, who was also part of the operation.” Zulkhairi said the boy was confirmed dead by Health Ministry personnel and the body was handed over to the police for further action. – Bernama

Corruption trial witness seeks protection after robbery

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri G. Gnanaraja, a key prosecution witness in the ongoing corruption trial involving former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, is set to apply for official protection under the witness protection programme, following injuries sustained in an alleged gang robbery. His lawyer, Datuk RT. Rajasekaran, said a formal letter would be submitted to the police requesting protection for his client pending a full investigation into the incident. “The case is still under investigation and we are concerned that it may be linked to my client’s role as a key prosecution witness in the ongoing corruption trial. “We trust the police will conduct their investigation professionally and we urge the public to refrain from speculation or drawing premature conclusions until the probe is o Wife says husband threatened and slashed with machete, family now living in fear

following the incident and appealed for police protection over concerns for their safety. Geethajali, who witnessed the incident firsthand, recounted that her husband was threatened and slashed with a machete. When asked about items reported missing, Geethajali declined to comment, citing the ongoing police investigation. She also confirmed that she had just completed giving her statement to the authorities. “A lot happened yesterday, but I’m unable to disclose details at this stage as it may interfere with the investigation.” Also present was lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is acting as a watching brief for the family. Responding to a question on whether the family had experienced similar incidents in the past, Geethajali said only two cases had occurred in their neighbourhood over the past decade, neither of which involved their residence. Lim is facing several charges in relation to the Penang Undersea Tunnel project. The DAP adviser, who was former Finance minister, is facing charges of soliciting a 10% share of profits, receiving RM3.3 million in kickbacks and involvement in the disposal of two Penang state land plots.

completed,” he told Bernama at a press conference on Thursday. Gnanaraja has appealed to the police to extend protection to his family, citing threats made during the attack, which occurred at about 6.30am, when a group of masked individuals armed with machetes broke into his home as he was preparing to leave for work. “One of them swung a machete towards my mouth and hand, while warning me not to speak out or ‘play the hero.’ They also (took) several personal belongings.” He received medical treatment at a private hospital, where he required five stitches on his left hand. Gnanaraja said he had recently testified in the corruption trial on July 22 and was scheduled to continue on Aug 19. He also called on the police to ensure a full and impartial investigation into the attack. Police had earlier confirmed that a businessman sustained injuries to his hand and mouth during a gang robbery at a residence in Jalan Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya and clarified that the incident was not linked to the ongoing court case. Gnanaraja’s wife, Datin G. Geethajali, said she and her family are now living in fear

Gnanaraja (second from right) said one of the robbers swung a machete towards his mouth and hand, while warning him not to speak out or ‘play the hero’. – BERNAMAPIC

Coach gets 13 years, caning for sexual assault of minor KUALA LUMPUR: A former wushu coach was sentenced to 13 years in prison and four strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court after being found guilty of committing physical sexual assault against a 10-year-old girl. defence counsel Tharamjit Singh for a stay of execution pending an appeal to the High Court. lenient sentence, citing that the accused had to care for his elderly mother. However, DPP Nur Shakila Mohd Shariff pressed for a heavier sentence, arguing that the offence was serious and had caused lasting psychological trauma to the victim.

Bong was charged with committing the offence in his capacity as a person in a position of trust, as the victim’s coach, at a premises in Taman Sri Sentosa, Jalan Klang Lama, at about 7.30pm on April 13, 2022. He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act. Section 14(a) provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping, while Section 16(1) carries a jail term of up to five years and not less than two strokes of the cane, upon conviction. Tharamjit urged the court to impose a

Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar handed down the sentence on Thursday after ruling that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the case against Gjeblehim Bong Teck Fuu, 34. “The court imposes a sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment from today, along with four strokes of the cane. The accused is also ordered to undergo counselling throughout the imprisonment period and placed under police supervision for three years after completing his sentence.” The court then dismissed an application by

“The victim is a child in need of the highest level of legal protection. The accused exploited her vulnerability and trust. As her coach, he was in a position of trust and should have acted as her protector and mentor. “Instead, he abused that position for his gratification. We urge the court to impose a stiffer sentence to serve as a deterrent and clear warning to others.” Eight prosecution witnesses and three defence witnesses, including the accused, were called to testify during the trial. – Bernama