SHAH ALAM: The two Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) policemen responding to a robbery alert in New Green Park, Rawang on Aug 5 could have possibily gone to the wrong house instead of the victim’s, which was located some 500 metres away.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Huzir Mohamed said this was based on information he had received on the incident, where the victim claimed that the duo arrived at the scene 17-minutes after placing an emergency call.
“There could be a mistake of the MPV going to the wrong location. What I mean by this is they were at the same neighbourhood, same road as the victim’s but at the wrong numbered house.
“They stopped at the wrong house which was on the left at the end of the road, while the victim’s house was located on the opposite end.
“When they arrived at the (wrong) house, they mistook it for the right one as its gate was opened and lights were switched on. They believed they were responding to a house break-in.
“One of them alighted from the MPV and went to the back of the house while waiting for back-up assistance to arrive.
“They only realised it was not the right house when the robbers, who fled in the victim’s car, drove past the MPV. They were only aware of it when the victim waved at the MPV,” said Huzir at the Selangor police headquarters today.
Huzir said the house numbers were not properly arranged unlike most neighbourhoods as it was an area of lot houses, where some houses are numbered and some are not.
He said the Selangor police contingent headquarter’s Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) has set up a team to investigate the matter.
“The duo will be hauled by JIPS to explain themselves and an investigation will be carried out to determine if they were late in responding. If it is true, we will take action based on the JIPS findings.
“At the moment, they are still allowed to go on their MPV duties. There is no criminal offence in this so it is not necessary to suspend them from their duties,” said Huzir.
Training consultant V. Thivyah, 33, and her family members endured a hellish night on Aug 5 when three masked armed robbers attacked them and relieved them of RM150,000 worth of valuables.
Her father A. Veelurajam, who is a retied teacher sustained three slash wounds on the head and shoulder. Her grandmother, who is almost 90, was dragged across the floor and later hospitalised.
On top of their ordeal, the family said their call to the 999 emergency number was allegedly answered with the response to call the district police’s bilik gerakan (operations room) next time.
Thivyah claimed she called the police at 2.37am upon realising several men were trying to break into the house from the back.
She was on the phone with the police while the robbers were trying to make their way inside her house. She alleged that the police only came at 3.30am.
During that period, three robbers managed to enter the home and attacked the family. Her father, however claimed a police patrol car arrived at 2.57am, about 20 minutes after their distress call to 999.