Businessmen deny involvement in cop's death

One of them, Azhar Ramli, 40, claimed that he was at home in Taman Cenderawasih, Butterworth near here, when the crash involving the policeman occurred and was shocked when informed the following day that a picture of him was posted on social websites as one of the suspects wanted by the police in the case.

"My brother-in-law told me about it. It is also found in Whatsapp and Wechat. What saddens me most is when Facebook users and bloggers said nasty things, insult and threaten us," he told reporters here today.

Azhar said his life was no longer the same as he now feared for his safety and his family members' because his address also appeared with the pictures.

On May 28, Kerian district police chief Supt Mat Fauzi Nayan denied that the police had issued pictures of the two businessmen.

Azhar also said his business had suffered tremendously since then as his suppliers were now afraid to have dealings with him.

The other businessman, Mohd Nizam Ali Hassan, 39, a scrap-metal dealer, said he had lodged a police report on May 27 after finding his picture on the social websites, but still received negative remarks and comments, as well as threats.

The pictures continued to be uploaded by bloggers and social website users, he added.

Azhar and Mohd Nizam, who had known each other since small, said they had never been called by the police and never convicted of any crime.

They also claimed not having a Toyota Wish car.

"If we are guilty, we would certainly have gone into hiding. The police would also have arrested us," said Azhar.

In the 1.15pm incident last May 26, Mohd Azuan, 25, a member of the Kerian district police headquarters' Motorcycle Patrol Unit, died at the scene when the motorcycle he was on, was rammed by a robber's car while his colleague was seriously injured.

The incident occurred at the 10th Mile towards Alor Pongsu, near Parit Buntar, when both policemen were after robbery suspects in a car before it rammed into their motorcycles from the back.