A 25-year-old labourer today claimed that he was shot three times at close range by a soldier for allegedly trespassing into an army depot in Jalan Kuching on Dec 5.

Mohd Ridzuan Mat Nor, who is now wheelchair-bound, said the bullets had shattered his bones.

Accompanied by his father Mat Nor Salleh, 72, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth chief M Manikavasagam, he lodged a report over the incident at the Sentul district police headquarters.

In his report, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini , Mohd Ridzuan said he and a friend were on their way home from the Selayang Wholesale Market at about 5am when the lorry they were traveling in broke down.

The duo then decided to walk back to the market and on their way, they came across old telephone cables outside the supply depot of the Royal Service Corps Centre in Jalan Kuching.

According to Mohd Ridzuan, they decided to collect the cables for scrap.

Within moments, he claimed, two men in raincoats and black crash helmets approached them and one of them, brandishing a pistol, fired three shots at them.

"We were scared and decided to run but the two men chased after us for about 150 metres. I was tired and stopped, my friend disappeared and the two men came to me and took off their raincoats and I could clearly see their army uniform.

"One of them was holding a pistol and he ordered me to take off my shirt. While I was removing my shirt, he fired a shot at my left leg and I fell to the ground... I pleaded with them because the pain was unbearable but I was ignored and another two shots were fired at my right leg," he reportedly told a press conference later.

Remanded for investigations

Mohd Ridzuan said the two alleged army personnel then left and he remained bleeding at the scene for about four hours until the police and an ambulance arrived and took him to Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

However this was not the end of his ordeal. He was remanded for 12 days at the hospital to facilitate investigations regarding the claim that he had trespassed into a military installation.

He was later released on bail on Dec 16.

It is learnt that Mohd Ridzuan is the sole breadwinner for his elderly parents and his father said that doctors have indicated a possibility that he might become disabled for life.

Meanwhile, Manikavasagam said the incident should not have happened.

"Even during the Sauk (arms heist several years ago), those who stole the weapons were never shot," he added when contacted.

He said that army officials from the depot have been visiting Mohd Ridzuan every morning since Dec 9.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mustafa Abdullah and Sentul district police chief A Thaiveegan could not be reached for comments despite numerous attempts.