IM this article to a friend!

November 23, 2004

Cops still probing reason deaf man stormed police station

From: The Malaysia Star, Malaysia - Nov 23, 2004

IPOH: Police are still trying to find out why an armed deaf man stormed the Rungkup police station on Sunday, causing a policeman to shoot him in self-defence.

Perak police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Asari Mokhtar said the lance corporal was manning the counter when the 25-year-old man confronted him with a knife at 7.30pm.

"Our investigation showed that the policeman had, a few times, asked the man who was having a knife in his hand not to go near him.

"But when the man ignored his warning, he decided to shoot at his right knee to defend himself.

"The 39-year-old lance corporal then pressed the emergency button to ask for help," he told reporters when met at a Hari Raya open house hosted by the State Information Department at a hotel here yesterday.

DCP Asari said the injured man, who was being treated in the Teluk Intan Hospital, was in stable condition.

He said police would seek the help of a sign language expert to record a statement from the suspect, who worked as a helper at his father's food stall located near the police station.

"We believe the man could be mentally disturbed as he had been treated for mental illness at Teluk Intan Hospital.

"We do not know why he suddenly attacked the policeman. We will try to establish his motive," DCP Asari said, adding that police had remanded the suspect for investigations under Section 189 of the Penal Code for threatening to cause injury to a public servant.

Copyright 1995-2004 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)