JOHOR BARU: A 42-year-old man, with a criminal record of more than 30 drug-related offences, was among two people killed in a shootout with the police at Jalan Abad here yesterday.
Both suspected criminals succumbed to gunshot wounds and died on the spot in the 5.04pm shootout.
The incident unfolded when a team made up of operatives from Organised Crime Investigation Division (D14) and Serious Crimes Division (D9) of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) together with a team from the Johor police force were trailing the suspects who were behaving suspiciously in a white Toyota Estima.
Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar said the suspects immediately sped off in an attempt to evade police inspection and arrest after realising they were being trailed.
"The suspects also opened fire, shooting several times at the police vehicle, which was closely tailing their multi-purpose vehicle (MPV)
The suspects' actions prompted the police to return fire towards the MPV. The shootout continued until the situation was brought under control.
"Checks showed both suspects in the Toyota Estima had been hit by gunfire and died," he said in a statement today.
Earlier, several clips of the shootout, as well as those showing policemen closing several roads and diverting traffic in the Kebun Teh area after Jalan Abad, went viral online.
Kumar said the police also found two pistols in MPV.
He added that police also found a pistol on the body of one of the suspects.
"In addition, the police found various types of substances believed to be drugs in the vehicle."
One of the suspects was identified as a 42-year-old with 38 drug-related offences. Police however are still in the process of verifying the identity of the other suspect.
The case, he said, is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.
He also calls for members of the public who have any further information regarding the incident to provide information to the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or the operations room hotline at 07-221299.
