SELAMA: An elderly man was detained by police for allegedly shooting and wounding another man who tried to steal his oil palm fruit bunches in Kampung Sumpit Beras, here, yesterday.
District police chief Superintendent Sarudin Samah said police received information from the Selama Hospital emergency department regarding a man who had a gunshot wound to his left leg at 7.50pm on Friday.
He said investigations revealed the 32-year-old victim and his 26-year-old friend had entered the elderly man's smallholding at 5pm with a lorry to steal the oil palm fruit bunches when the shooting occurred.
Police arrested the senior citizen, 62, about 3pm yesterday.
"Also arrested was the victim's friend, who took the victim to the hospital, after it was discovered he was involved as well.
"The interrogation also found that the suspect had never held a firearm licence. He later led police to the location where the weapon was hidden," Sarudin told reporters.
Police found the shotgun wrapped in batik cloth and hidden in a plastic bag at the smallholding.
Sarudin said the suspect had owned the shotgun for the past 10 years, having purchased it nd some ammunition from a friend for RM1,200.
"The suspect informed us that the seller had already died and a check of his past criminal records revealed that he had previously been arrested under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.
"Additionally, the 3.23ha he cultivates is also an illegal plantation, with no record of ownership," he said.
Sarudin said the suspect was now under remand for three days, starting today, while the victim's friend has been released on police bail.
The case is being investigated under Section 37 of the Arms Act 1960.