Malaysian car-jacker found shot dead in Thailand

A Malaysian, suspected to have been a luxury car-jacker, was found shot dead at a rubber plantation in the southern province of Narathiwat, Thailand early today.

Sukri Ismail, 50, who was high on the Malaysian police wanted list for smuggling stolen luxury cars into Thailand, sustained gunshot wounds in the head and back.

Nicknamed 'Mat Yei Kudung', he was from Kampung Laloh, Kuala Krai, Kelantan.

Initial police investigations have revealed Sukri was involved in a scuffle before he was gunned down.

There were vehicle tyre marks at the scene where his body, clad in a pair of jeans and polo shirt was found.

The incident, believed to have occurred just before 10am, was confirmed by the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok.

Narathiwat's Rusak district police officer, Captain Monteri Janmuang said Sukri was believed to have been taken to the spot by two to three men before he was killed.

"He had tried to fight them off, in a bid to escape but failed. We are investigating whether the killing was linked to separatist groups or was a personal matters," he said.

He said the Thai police had alerted the Malaysian consulate in Songkhla on the matter, adding that a report was received from Kampong Bangol Laweng's assistant headman in Mukim Batong, Annuar Cheknae, on the incident.

According to sources at the Malaysian Embassy contacted by Bernama, a warrant of arrest had been issued against Sukri in connection with luxury car thefts and smuggling vehicles into Thailand.

There were at least five police reports lodged against Sukri who was believed to have been in hiding in Thailand.