'Zawa Gang' member linked to five armed robberies nabbed

A man, suspected to be a member of the notorious 'Zawa Gang' which committed several armed robberies, and is linked to a shootout involving two policemen last month, was detained in a raid yesterday.

The 25-year-old suspect was walking outside a lodge in Jalan Seri Cemerlang about 8am when a police team nabbed him.

Seized from the man was a revolver which was believed to have been used in five robberies at several districts, including Gua Musang and a bottle of heroin, among others.

Also picked were a woman, in her 20s, believed to be the suspect's wife, and a five-month-old baby.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman told a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters here today, the man could shed light on a shootout on Oct 30 in Gua Musang, resulting in two policemen sustaining gunshot wounds.

The policemen were Lance Corporal Mohd Samsul Anuar Mohd Adnan, 34, from the Paloh police station, and Corporal Mat Raduan Mat Hussan, 50, of the Macang police headquarters.

During the shootout, the suspect's accomplice, Zawa Abd Halim, 34, who was armed with a gun, was shot dead by the police at 45km Jalan Kota Baharu-Kuala Krai in Kampung Kemuning, Machang.

Jalaluddin said the police were looking for remnants of the gang.

Meanwhile, the state police chief said the police had received 11 reports from non-governmental organisations pertaining to Pas Spiritual Leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat labelling Umno as an apostate party at the party's 58th Congress held here last week.