'Technical error' found in identification process involving robber cops case

A ‘technical error’ in the identification process on two policemen who were allegedly involved in a snatch theft incident in Kelana Jaya last month had caused the delay in the case to be brought or charged in court.

Petaling Jaya district police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said the ‘technical error’ was found after the identification parade process by victim B.Saravanan at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters on July 7, four days after the incident took place.

“I can’t elaborate further what kind of ‘technical error’ that had occurred because investigation is still on-going but we are trying to get other statements from witnesses to assist and support the existing evidence in our probe,” he told reporters at Petaling Jaya district headquarters.

It is learnt that the ‘technical error’ was the two policemen the victim had positively identified were not the actual snatch thieves involved in the accident and the real thieves are still at large.

Arjunaidi clarified the duo were not arrested but only asked to attend the identification parade process.

“The duo are police constables and still in active duty. However they are not attached to any district police station here or state police headquarters,” said Arjunaidi.

So far, police have taken statements from more than 10 people with regards to the case but have yet to trace the woman involved in the jewellery snatch incident. The case is being investigated as a robbery.

On July 3, about noon, technician Saravanan was in his car when he saw two men on a motorcycle snatching a woman’s necklace near his office at Taman Mayang in Kelana Jaya.

He then immediately rammed towards the motorcycle which caused the duo to fall. One of them fled from the scene on foot while his accomplice tried to escape using the motorcycle.

Saravanan had then rammed toward the motorcycle again but the thief reacted by throwing stones at him, causing damage to the windscreen.

The suspects armed with a knife then attacked him in a brief scuffle. The thief, however manage to snatch his necklace before escaping.

Saravanan did not chase the suspect. A police patrol car came later and assisted him.

From the chassis number inspection, it was confirmed that the motorcycle belonged to a police officer.

The motorcycle was using a fake registration number.