Two persons arrested over JB petrol station murder

JOHOR BARU — Malaysian police have arrested a man and a woman in connection with the brutal murder of a man at a petrol station in Johor Baru.

“We arrested two suspects, aged 19 and 22 years, on Wednesday (Dec 20) at around 2.30am to assist with the investigations,” The Star Online quoted Johor police chief Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd as saying.

A special task force set up specifically to go after the suspects arrested the duo, said Mr Mohd Khalil.

He did not provide further details.

Mr Mohd Khalil also urged the public to refrain from spreading rumours which can create confusion and cause alarm.

“Police can take action under Section 505 of the Penal Code for causing fear or alarm to the public,” he said.

Section 505 criminalises the publication and circulation of unverified news, which is considered public mischief and is punishable with a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both.

Malaysian police have launched a manhunt for four perpetrators who were recorded on video to have stabbed and run over Tan Ah Choy at a Shell petrol station in Taman Pelangi on Sunday.

Tan had just parked his Volkswagen Polo at the petrol station and was inflating his car’s tyres when he was stopped by several men in a white BMW 520d.

One of the suspects had tried to pull the 44-year-old victim into their car but the latter put up a fight.

Eyewitnesses then saw the men assaulting Tan and stabbing him with a sharp object, which caused him to collapse on the compound of the petrol station.

After Tan was stabbed, the suspects threw an explosive device, believed to be a firecracker, at him before re-entering their vehicle.

They then ran over his body twice before fleeing the scene.

Tan subsequently died due to head and body injuries. His female companion, a Vietnamese national in her 20s, claimed his body from the Sultan Ismail Hospital mortuary on Monday afternoon.

Video footage of the brutal murder has been circulated on social media and prompted an outcry from Malaysians.

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Tuesday that a dispute over a drug deal between two triads was behind the murder, adding that Tan is believed to have been the leader of a secret society.

Police also said Tan had 13 previous drug records.

“Police have zeroed in on the reason and have identified the four assailants. A manhunt has been launched to nab the suspects,” Mr Zahid said on Tuesday. AGENCIES