Hamza (second left) presenting a souvenir to an army personnel at the blood donation campaign. Seen with them is Rosland.
KOTA KINABALU: A Sabahan policeman based in Negeri Sembilan was arrested in Sandakan on suspicion of stealing a pick-up truck with a five-year-old boy inside.
The incident happened on Sunday, Dec 15 around 10.30am in Kunak, while the corporal, believed to be mentally ill, was arrested two days later on Dec 17.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said initial police investigation showed the boy’s sister-in-law had left the child, Mohd Said Maskor, in the backseat of the Toyota Vigo with the engine running outside his house in Kampung Bagiang.
“After a few minutes in the house, the father came out only to find his vehicle driven away by someone.
“Following a police report lodged and continuous investigation, police arrested the suspect in Sandakan on Tuesday.
“The five-year-old boy is also safe and has been reunited with his family,” said Hamza, adding that the boy was not harmed in the incident.
Hamza was speaking at a press conference after officiating at the ‘National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS 8)’ blood donation campaign, a joint communication between the Royal Malaysian Police and the Royal Malaysian Army at Komplexs Karamunsing here yesterday.
Present during at the event were Sabah Navy Region Two commander Rear Admiral Mohd Datuk Rosland Omar, Fifth Brigade commander Brigadier General Datuk Ranjit Singh Ramday, Acting Fifth Brigade commander cum administrative staff officer Lt. Col. Ramli Sukardi, Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner P/DCP Datuk Abdul Malek Hj Harun and Dr. Shanaz Sabri from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital blood bank unit.
Hamza said police have yet to determine the suspect’s motive but investigation showed he was suffering from mental problems.
“The suspect has been remanded to facilitate police investigation under Section 365 and Section 379A of the Penal Code,” he said.
It is learnt that the suspect is attached to the Negeri Sembilan narcotics division, and was on vacation in Sabah when the incident happened.