Police gun down Sabah's most wanted criminal

Sabah's most wanted criminal bit the dust when he was gunned down by the police during a shootout in Tuaran near here last night.

Following the 7pm incident at a house in Taman Sri Gayang here, where the fugitive was holed up, the police seized 3.7kg of syabu estimated about RM300,000.

Earlier, a police team had identified itself to the 37-year-old gunman who was also a drug distributor and car-jacker, and challenged him to surrender.

However, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said the state's most wanted criminal was undeterred and began shooting at the policemen who returned fire, killing him on the spot.

"Upon checking the house, the police seized a pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition and two packets of syabu.

"Also seized in the raid were several drug-making paraphernalia and house break-in tools, including a hammer and steel cutter.

"The hunt for the wanted criminal began after a RM500,000 armed robbery involving cash and jewellery at a house in Keningau was committed on March 17, prompting the police to set up a special team to track him down," he told a press conference at the Sabah police contingent headquarters here today.

Ramli said initial investigations revealed the dead criminal had 10 previous records for car-jacking and house break-ins.

"The man was believed to have been active in drug distribution activities, as well as armed robberies and house break-ins since 2015.

Meanwhile, the police have sought Hiew Yun Fong and Kevin to facilitate investigations into the RM500,000 robbery in Keningau.

-- BERNAMA