Surrender your unlicensed, homemade shotguns to police, Sarawakians told

Members of the public in possession of unlicensed or homemade shotguns should surrender them at their nearest police stations.

In a statement Saturday, Sarawak CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Dev Kumar said it was an offence to have unlicensed shotguns and any owner could face seven years imprisonment and a fine up to RM10,000, upon conviction.

He said the police were concerned that shotguns had been used to rob or to commit murders in the state.

"We will not allow this to happen. We understand in Sarawak shotguns are primarily used for hunting.

"We do not intend to disrupt such legitimate usage," he said.

Dev said on Aug 2, three individuals were arrested for the killing of a 36-year-old pepper buyer in Kampong Jugan in Bau near here.

"Their arrest led to the discovery of a shotgun believed to be used in the case," he said.

They are suspected of having been involved in a spate of housebreaking and attempted robbery cases since early this year in Simunjan, Serian and Bau districts, he said.

"For instance, on June 23 this year too, they were believed to have broken into a house at Kampung Sungai Raya in Simunjan where they took away a licensed Johnson 12-bore shotgun, valued at RM10,000.

"Its owner had kept it in the ceiling of his house," he said.

Dev said the gun was later sold to a 49-year old man in Lundu who was later arrested, as a result of investigation into the case.

"He is being investigated for possessing a firearm and 18 bullets without a licence or permit under Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960.

"In addition, he will also be investigated for having in his possession, a stolen property," Dev said.