CHUKAI: A man was injured after being shot by his friend who mistook him for a monkey stealing fruits in an incident that occurred in Kerteh yesterday.
Around 11am, a 54-year-old victim sustained injuries to his hand after being hit by pellets from a shotgun fired by his friend.
Kemaman district police chief, Superintendent Hanyan Ramlan, said that before the incident, the victim was reportedly climbing a mangosteen tree in his garden.
At the same time, the 69-year-old suspect, who was carrying a shotgun, also went to the same garden. Seeing the tree shaking, the suspect, believing that it was a group of monkeys on the tree, fired a shot.
Realising that his friend had been hit, the victim was then rushed to the Emergency Unit of Kemaman Hospital for treatment.
Hanyan said that the victim received medical attention before being allowed to return home.
"A team of police officers conducted an investigation and confiscated the shotgun used by the suspect in the incident. The suspect was also arrested and taken to the Kemaman District Police Headquarters for further investigation," he said.
Hanyan added that a check revealed that the suspect did not possess the necessary permits and licences for firearm ownership, and the police are investigating to identify the owner of the shotgun in question.
"This case is being investigated under Section 8 and Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1990," he stated.