KUALA LUMPUR: A MAN believed to be a member of the notorious Mamak Gang was killed and his accomplice wounded in a shoot-out with police in Taman Melawati here yesterday.
The 59-year-old man was said to have been high on the police wanted list for a string of armed robberies. His accomplice was also believed to have been a member of the gang.
The drama unfolded when police tried to stop the duo, who were in a red Volkswagen Jetta bearing fake registration plates, at the site of a night market in Lorong Sarawak at 1.50pm.
It is understood that serious crimes division officers had been monitoring the two for the past few days and had moved in yesterday to arrest them.
The driver of the vehicle tried to ram into a police car in a bid to escape. But the duo found themselves blocked by two other police vehicles.
One of them had opened fire, prompting police to fire at their direction and killing the wanted man instantly. His 32-year-old accomplice was wounded at the waist and was sent to Ampang Hospital.
Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah said both men had criminal records.
“Police were forced to open fire in self-defence. We had no choice but to shoot, killing the suspect on the spot,” adding that one of the police officers injured his left hand in a scuffle with one of the two men.
“Their modus operandi was similar to the Mamak Gang, which is to impersonate policemen.”
The Mamak Gang’s forte was hijacking luxury vehicles, but was known to have been involved in robberies, including the RM12 million Subang Airport gold bar heist in August, 1994.
It is learnt that the current members are remnants of the gang, responsible for more than 150 robberies in the 1990s.
Adnan said the deceased was from Grik, Perak, and was believed to be behind 24 armed robberies and break-ins in the Klang Valley.
“The man is believed to be a hardcore criminal and one of the longest-serving members of the gang. We have found seven parang, an axe, 16 fake car number plates, a police vest, ski mask and gloves.”
A Smith & Wesson revolver, believed to have been the one used in the shoot-out, was also recovered from the vehicle.