03 January 2013 | last updated at 11:57PM
2 teens arrested over fatal snatch-theft attempt
KEPALA BATAS: Police have arrested two teenagers to facilitate investigation into the botched snatch-theft attempt in Permatang Manggis here last Friday which claimed the life of 65-year-old A. Josop.
State Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Mazlan Kesah said the suspects, both 17, were picked up in the Seberang Perai Utara district. It is learnt that the duo were picked up in two separate locations in Kepala Batas yesterday. Mazlan said police were trying to establish whether they were the prime suspects.
In the 7.30pm incident on Dec 28, Josop and his wife A. Alies, were travelling from Bagan Ajam to attend his nephew's birthday party in Bertam when two men on a motorcycle tried to snatch Alies' gold chain.
The pillion rider managed to snatch the chain, but lost his grip and dropped it before fleeing empty-handed. However, Josop lost control of his motorcycle and crashed by the roadside.
The grandfather of eight died on the spot from severe head and internal injuries, but Alies survived with minor bruises.
In an unrelated case, Mazlan said police had picked up four members of a family after police discovered two pistols and live ammunition during a raid at their house in Jalan Satu here early yesterday.
He said initial investigations showed that the two pistols, a German-made Sig Sauer and a Spanish-made Llama could have been used in several shooting incidents in the state, including the assassination of a man in Mak Mandin, Butterworth last February.
Mazlan said police also seized 67 live bullets comprising .32 calibre (31), .9 calibre (25), .45 calibre (10) and a .22 calibre bullet as well as a fake pistol during the raid. He said police believed that they were able to solve several shooting cases in the state with the seizure of the firearms.
"The suspects, two women and two men aged between 39 and 72, have been remanded."
Police have classified the case under Section 8 of the Firearms Act which carries a maximum of 14 years' jail and whipping, and Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 that carries a jail term of up to seven years or fine or both if found guilty.
