KOTA KINABALU: The murder of a Sarawakian businessman at Beverly Hills Commercial Centre in Bundusan, Penampang on Saturday was the job of a hired hitman.
State Crime Investigation Department chief SAC Omar Mammah, who did not rule out the possibility of hired assassins involved, said the 10.30pm shooting was not done at random but was aimed at the victim.
“Police investigation showed the victim was shot at close range by his assailant, with a shotgun, while he was on his cellphone outside a coffee shop around 10.30pm at Beverly Hills Commercial Centre when a white vehicle approached and the attacker fired at him, hitting his right ribs.
It was also learnt that a police officer who was patrolling near the area immediately sent the victim to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for treatment.
“From initial police investigation the police also believe the motive of the murder was a business deal that has gone bad,” he said yesterday.
On August 3, Tiong Choon Kwong, 44, a resort operator from Kuching died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after his assailant shot him at close range.
The victim collapsed on the road while his friends who were believed inside the coffee shop, immediately ran to his aid.
Meanwhile, Omar said investigation was still being carried out to identify the shooter and the vehicle that was used in the getaway.
“Initial police investigation showed a white vehicle, believed to be either a Perodua Kancil, a Viva or a Myvi car, was used by the suspect, and the police believe more than one person was involved,” he said, adding that no arrest had been made.
The police are investigating the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
It was learnt that Tiong, who was operating a resort at Dinawan Island off Papar, had been residing in the state capital since 2007.
He leaves behind a wife and two children. His family was not in the state capital when the incident happened.
It was also learnt that his family members arrived from Sarawak on Sunday to bring back his body for burial.
Omar said they were still checking with Bukit Aman on Tiong’s alleged Restricted Resident status.
Tiong is said to be a former Restricted Residence detainee who served his time in Sabah’s east coast Kunak district some years ago and only started his business about two years ago.
Some of his friends in Sabah believe he may have been the victim of a hit ordered by underworld kingpins in Sabah or Sarawak.
A friend, identified only as Ting, 44, said they were having a drink at the coffeeshop when Tiong suddenly left the table to take a call on his handphone.
“He was walking up and down in front of the shop while talking. So, I continued with my drink while waiting for him to come back. Suddenly, I heard a single loud gunshot and then I heard Tiong shouting that he had been shot,” he said when met outside the hospital’s emergency unit here on Saturday night.
Ting said he ran to Tiong, who was on the ground and bleeding, and shouted for help before a police officer in a patrol car came by to help rush the victim to the hospital.
“Everything happened so fast. I only managed to get a glimpse of a car fleeing the scene after I heard the gunshot. I don’t know what happened. Tiong was still alive when I got to him,” he said.
Police have urged those with information of the murder to contact Penampang police chief Deputy Supt Ratan Kumar Singh at 019-862 6000 or Penampang CID chief Asst Supt Che Rafizi Che Ramli at 019-813 3337.