JOHOR BARU: Retired police detective Corporal Edwin Nathan Anthony who was shot thrice in the line on duty on March 10, 2005, died on Saturday.
The 45-year-old detective, formerly with the Johor police serious crimes division was left paralysed in a shootout with an armed robbery gang at the Grand Seasons Hotel basement parking.
Edwin, who was then 24 years old, was part of the police task force investigating the ruthless armed robbery gang, whose members were rogue policemen.
The robbers had targeted banks, shops and mobile phone outlets, some 19 years ago.
The detective, who was still in his prime, took three close-range gunshots, two to his abdomen and one to the spine.
The gunshots resulted in him being paralysed waist down.
In an exclusive interview with the New Straits Times, in 2005, the late detective said: "I am eager to get back into action. I am praying that I will fully recover."
However, he was confined to a wheelchair until his dying breath.
The rogue policemen gang had struck banks and other business premises in Johor and Kuala Lumpur, thus police from both the states were involved in the operation.
The shootout unfolded when Edwin's team of detectives had learnt that the gang had struck in Johor and several members were reported leaving the state.
A team from Johor trailed the robbers to the Grand Seasons Hotel along Jalan Pahang, in Kuala Lumpur.
Edwin and his team arrived at the now defunct hotel and after parking their vehicles in the basement.
They spotted one of their targets coming out of the hotel's lift and walking towards a car.
The detectives immediately sprang into action.
Edwin confronted the suspect and ordered him to hit the ground.
He pounced on the suspect and was handcuffing him when an accomplice who was later identified as one of the rogue cops, came up from behind.
As Edwin stood and pulled the earlier suspect to his feet, the rogue policeman opened fire.
His colleague was also shot in the abdomen but survived.
Two rogue policemen were killed, and seven other gang members, also rogue policemen, were arrested.
Police also seized a cache of weapons.
For his bravery and willingness to risk his life in the line of duty, Edwin was awarded the Police Bravery Medal several months after the incident.
Edwin joined the force on Dec 1, 2000.
Meanwhile, the late detective's elder sister Kamala Lourds Anthony, said Edwin decided against marriage due to his physical condition.
She said Edwin was the youngest among their siblings.
He never fully recovered from the shooting and had several health complications including frequent Gastroesophageal Reflux and chest pains.
On Saturday, about 1.30pm, Edwin complained about severe chest pains and fainted without regaining consciousness.
"We were under the impression that it was the normal pain he had encountered in the past, but when we could not wake him up, we rushed him to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Edwin's funeral prayers will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church, here, tomorrow at 2pm.
It will be followed by his cremation at the Tiong Hua Memorial Park, here in Johor Baru.