JOHOR BARU: Two police officers suffered hand injuries after being struck by a car driven by a Singaporean woman, causing them to fall at Jalan Persiaran Alif Harmoni last night.
Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the incident occurred as a team from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Johor Baru Selatan district police headquarters was monitoring Op Tapis operations in Jalan Tampoi, Taman Seri Bahagia.
He said the police identified a suspicious grey Perodua Axia and tailed the vehicle to Jalan Persiaran Alif Harmoni.
As the police team approached the suspect's vehicle for inspection, the car was driven recklessly, striking two officers, resulting in hand injuries.
Defying police orders to stop, the driver accelerated towards the Pasir Gudang Highway.
"The police pursued the suspect's vehicle along the Iskandar Coastal Highway and the Second Link Expressway.
"During the high-speed chase, the suspect recklessly crashed through a toll gate at the Senai Utara toll plaza before entering the North-South Expressway (northbound) in an attempt to escape," he said in a statement today.
He said police patrol vehicles from Kulai and Kluang district police were mobilised, and the suspect's vehicle was eventually intercepted in Simpang Renggam, Kluang.
A 38-year-old female suspect, believed to be a Singaporean national and the driver of the vehicle, was arrested, along with a 49-year-old male local passenger.
"Upon inspection, several plastic packages containing substances believed to be drugs were found in the vehicle.
"Following the arrest, the Johor Baru Selatan Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division conducted two separate raids in Johor Baru, seizing various types of suspected drugs.
"Preliminary urine tests on the suspects returned positive for methamphetamine," he said.
He said checks on the male suspect's records revealed a history of drug-related offences and other crimes; and an arrest warrant.
"In this operation, the police successfully seized drugs with an estimated total value of RM54,831, including cannabis, syabu, ecstasy powder, heroin, and nitrazepam pills," he said.
He said the suspects were remanded for six days from Dec 31 to Jan 5.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking or possession of drugs, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment with whipping upon conviction.
He said investigations are also being carried out under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug use, which is punishable by a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to two years upon conviction.
"The case is also being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and may include a fine upon conviction.
"Investigations are also ongoing under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief, punishable by imprisonment of one to five years, a fine, or both upon conviction."
He said investigations are also being conducted under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants from performing their duties, which carries a maximum penalty of three-month jail and RM1,000 fine.