A police corporal was killed after he was rammed by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by burglars fleeing after breaking into a house at Taman Golf, near Alor Setar, today.
Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah said Hafizul Izham Mazlan, 35, died at the scene after he was struck by a Lexus SUV with four suspects on board, Bernama reported.
He said the incident happened after police received a tip-off at 3.30pm regarding a suspected house burglary.
A team of five officers and personnel from the Kedah police contingent’s criminal investigation department 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,” Adzli said.
Police managed to arrest a suspect at the scene. The other three fled in the SUV but abandoned it near a hotel in Kepala Batas.
They then hijacked an elderly couple’s vehicle at a hotel.
“They forced the male driver out and took off with his wife, still seated in the front passenger seat.
“The vehicle was later involved in an accident in Kepala Batas and police successfully apprehended all the remaining suspects,” Adzli said.
The suspects, aged 24 to 26, will be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, and Section 457 of the same law for housebreaking.
The suspected ringleader, 26, has 77 prior convictions for burglary, car theft and drug offences. The other three suspects also have prior criminal records.
The suspects will be remanded tomorrow.
Hafizul, from Setiu, Terengganu, had been with the police force for 15 years.
He is survived by his wife and three sons, aged four, nine and 11.
