Family rejects police profiling, demands inquest after fatal shooting

Summary

• While the deceased had an ongoing court case, his family denies that he was an armed robber and possessed 7 prior criminal records.

• Police claim he had opened fire and they shot back in response.

• AGC urged to act fast on inquiry request as other similar cases took years to be registered.

The family of Chan Wey Han, who was fatally shot by police in Terengganu on March 16, is demanding an inquest, firmly rejecting the authorities’ portrayal of him as a violent criminal.

Eliminating Deaths And Abuse In Custody Together (Edict) said the family denied that the deceased was actively involved in armed robberies and possessed seven prior criminal records.

“According to the family, the deceased was not wanted by the police as claimed. The family also stated that although the deceased had an ongoing criminal case in court, he had never been convicted or sentenced for any offence,” the NGO added in a statement.

Edict said the family claimed the deceased had been reporting to the Jerteh police station every month, with the last report made on March 12 - four days before the shooting.

Previously, it was reported that a police team from Bukit Aman spotted Chan driving a Ford Ranger in a suspicious manner in Kuala Besut.

Quoting a source, Berita Harian, who did not name the deceased in its report, said when Chan was ordered to stop, he shot at the police officers, forcing them to return fire.

It was reported that an inspection inside the vehicle also found a silver-colored pistol along with a magazine on the floor of the driver's side.

Gold jewellery not returned to family

Edict, which is scheduled to hold a press conference on the matter tomorrow, said the family also denied that the car driven by the deceased was a stolen vehicle.

“The family states that a gold chain and a gold ring worn by the deceased on the day of the incident were not returned to them by the police.

“According to them, the deceased always wore these items and never took them off. This further raises questions regarding the death and investigation,” it added.

Edict said the family had also engaged a lawyer who sent a letter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on April 15 regarding the inquest proceedings.

“The legal counsel received a reply via email from the AGC on April 18, merely stating ‘we will take further action. Any decision will be informed via email’.

“Nearly two months have passed since that email, and the deceased’s family has yet to receive any updates on the case from the police or the AGC,” it added.

‘Don’t take years to register inquest’

Edict urged all parties not to delay the case, citing how previous incidents witnessed the inquest proceedings registered years later.

It cited the case of Wan Fadlie Shah Wan Fadzil, which also involved a police shooting incident in 2012, but the inquest proceedings were only registered in 2021, nine years after the death.

“We also refer to the case of Hendra Razak and two others, where a shooting incident occurred in 2013, but the inquest was only registered in 2024 - 11 years after the incident.

“We also refer to the case of Atif Abu Bakar, which occurred in 2022. Regrettably, the inquest has yet to be registered to date, despite a written confirmation from the AGC that an inquest would be held,” it added.

COMMENT | Thorough probe needed in Seremban fatal police shooting

Setia Alam mall shooting suspect killed in police raid

IGP aims for tighter border control after spate of gun crimes

Transparent probe of Indonesian shooting incident - minister

Shooting: PM vows full probe, cops say victims part of trafficking ring

Cops confirm report on 3 foreigners with gunshot wounds at S'gor hospital