TAWAU: The district police here arrested four suspects in two separate operations on Sept 17—one foreigner in a firearm and drug case, and three men over a housebreaking—while seizing a Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, 901.35 grams of suspected syabu (methamphetamine) and housebreaking tools.
OCPD ACP Rosdi Mat Jusoh said in the first case, a 26-year-old foreigner was arrested in a raid on a lodging room on Jalan Dunlop. The raid was carried out by officers and personnel from the District Criminal Investigation Division together with the District Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division.
During inspection, police found a Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol, one magazine and three rounds of ammunition kept in a black plastic bag and hidden in the room.
The suspect then led police to a car parked at the lodging area. A search of a black sling bag under the driver’s seat found a plastic packet containing a clear crystalline substance suspected to be syabu, weighing 901.35 grams.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect admitted the drugs belonged to him, while his urine screening test was positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine. For the firearm case, he claimed the pistol had been obtained from a man from another district and was believed to be intended for sale to another party in a neighbouring country.
He is being investigated under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, as well as under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. He has been remanded for 14 days to assist further investigations.
In the second case, the District Criminal Investigation Division arrested three men suspected of involvement in a housebreaking in Tanjung Batu Tengah, Tawau. The operation was conducted at Lorong Jurangan Rosli, Jalan Tanjung Batu.
Rosdi said the suspects, aged between 17 and 38, were arrested after police tracked them down. Police also seized several tools believed to have been used for housebreaking. Further checks found that one suspect was a foreigner without valid travel documents and believed to be residing in Malaysia.
The break-in involved a house in Kampung Tanjung Batu Tengah. Various items were reported missing, including two laptops, a television, an Astro decoder, a wristwatch, baby items, shoes, handbags, imitation gold and three standing fans. Estimated losses were about RM20,000.
The case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Police advised the public not to be involved in drug abuse and trafficking or illegal possession of firearms. They also urged the public to ensure home security when leaving their residences, including locking doors and windows properly and informing trusted neighbours if the house will be left vacant for a long period. Any suspicious incident or activity should be reported immediately to the police so prompt action can be taken. – James Leong
The foreigner arrested by Tawau police.
