KUALA LUMPUR: Two men, including a personal bodyguard, were arrested for attempting to rob an Indonesian woman at her home in Kepong on Dec 7. The suspects had impersonated police officers and were carrying a pistol during the incident.
Sentul District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said the 40-year-old victim reported the incident, explaining that the two men arrived at her house around 11pm and introduced themselves as police officers conducting a house inspection.
However, the woman became suspicious and contacted the police, at which point her mobile phone was seized by the suspects.
"One of the suspects, aged 55, works as a personal security guard and had been employed in the role for seven years. The pistol used in the incident was issued by his company.
The other suspect, aged 42, is unemployed," Ahmad Sukarno said in a press conference today.
He said preliminary checks showed that the duo committed the crime due to financial constraints and it was their first attempt.
"During the incident, they did not wear police vests but verbally claimed to be officers."
Police arrested both suspects at the scene on Dec 8, and seized a CZ 75 pistol, 10 rounds of ammunition, a firearm license card belonging to a security company, and two mobile phones.
"A background check revealed that one of the suspects had a prior criminal record involving drug-related offences. The case is being investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for robbery and attempted robbery, and Section 8 of the Firearms Act (Heavier Penalties) 1971," he said.
In a separate case, he said the Sentul police also arrested a 25-year-old man for extortion.
"The suspect had demanded RM500 in "protection money" from a stall owner on Jalan Sentul Pasar on Dec 5."
Ahmad Sukarno said the victim, who was opening his stall, was approached by the suspect who demanded the money and threatened to damage his stall if his request was not met.
"The suspect returned to the stall at 2.30pm the same day, took food without paying, and left the scene.
"Concerned for his safety and business, the stall owner later filed a police report. Following an investigation, the suspect was arrested on Dec 8 at Jalan Sentul Pasar," he said.
He said the suspect also had 15 prior criminal records, including for drug-related offences.
"He acted alone, and this was the first time he targeted the stall owner," Ahmad Sukarno said.
The extortion case is being investigated under Section 385 of the Penal Code.