TAWAU: Six people including a foreigner have been arrested to facilitate an investigation into the recent brutal killing of a male elephant here.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Peter Umbuas said the suspects, aged between 48 and 68, were detained at Felda Umas here this morning.
Police also confiscated 56 live bullets and three firearms believed to be used by the suspects in connection to the discovery of a elephant carcass, believed to have been shot 70 times at Sungai Udin Dumpas near here.
He said police also seized an Iver Johnson Single Barrel 30” pump gun, an air rifle and homemade gun or “bakakuk”, as well as a firearm and a bullet licence booklet.
“Facebook MyTawau on Sept 25 at about 9.25pm stated that an elephant carcass with a rope around its neck was found floating at Sungai Udin Dumpas.
“Based on that, on Oct 2, at about 12.20pm at Felda Umas 4, a team of police conducted an operation and detained a man believed to be involved in this case.
“Three operations were later conducted around the same area, where four men were detained for possessing homemade firearms,” he said in a press conference here.
Peter said two more suspects were subsequently arrested.
Two of the six detained were Felda Umas workers tasked to monitor animals encroachment at the plantation.
The suspects will be remanded tomorrow. The case is investigated under the Section 8 (a) Firearms Act 1960.
A post-mortem on the body of the Borneo pygmy elephant revealed 70 gunshot wounds, with one bullet piercing its head.
It was previously reported that a RM30,000 reward was offered to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the individuals guilty of such heinous crime.
“It is believed that the motive behind the killing was to remove its tusks, besides preventing wild animals from entering the area.” he added.