Penang amok case: Police hunt 3 suspects over 'inciteful statements'

Police are on the hunt for three suspects to assist in investigations into alleged inciteful statements being made concerning the recent shooting case in Bayan Lepas, Penang.

According to Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) principal assistant director (D5) of prosecution/law, Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, two of the suspects are from Kedah while one is from Penang.

“Many inciteful elements (on the case) have surfaced on social media.

“We are in the midst of tracing them (the suspects),” Mior Faridalathrash said at a press conference at Bukit Aman today.

In the Monday incident, police shot dead a parang-wielding 25-year-old factory worker who had run amok, causing the death of a supervisor and injuring a co-worker. 

Following the incident, Mior Faridalathrash said one of the three suspects being sought started circulating allegations that one of the victims was attacked after insulting the Prophet Mohammad.

The suspects, aged between 35 and 40 years, shared the messages online via platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, which went viral.

“Actually, that is not right. He (the deceased suspect) had mental problems as he was influenced by videos from the Middle East,” Mior Faridalathrash said.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had yesterday threatened to arrest those spreading rumours on the case, including those who claimed the man died a martyr. 

Hamid said the man was found to have been heavily influenced by clips from the Middle East purportedly showing the plight of Muslims in the region, but which “have nothing to do with our country”. 

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