KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Aug 2008: Police shot dead four criminals in Bukit Hartamas in Cheras here early today when the foursome tried to attack them while fleeing after having robbed a businessman in Taman Bukit Permai in Ampang.
The men, Indonesians believed to be members of the Rantau Gang and wanted for 19 robberies in Ampang and Kuala Kubu Baru in Selangor as well as in Negeri Sembilan and Malacca over the past month, had charged at the policemen from the Serious Crimes (D9) Division of the Selangor police with machetes and sickles.
Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar identified the criminals shot dead in the 5.30am incident as Hassan Jaya, 48, Heriyanto, 38, Saparudin, 26, and Ardiansaputra, also 26.
He said the four men broke into the home of businessman Lee Yan Lin, 39, in Taman Bukit Permai at about 4 am, held up Lee with machetes and sickles and tied him up.
"The robbers took RM100 from my wallet, two mobile phones and some US currency," said Lee, who lodged a report with the Pandan Indah police station.
He said the robbers fled after realising that his mother, who lived opposite his house, suspected something amiss and came to find out if everything was all right.
Khalid said the robbers bumped into the policemen as they were fleeing to a kongsi in the nearby jungle. They drew their machetes and sickles and were about to attack the policemen when they were shot, he added.
Khalid said preliminary investigation showed that two of the four men had been involved in a robbery in Serendah three days ago.
Police recovered a laptop computer, two mobile telephones, RM2,000 cash, knives, machetes and sickles, Indonesian passports and six watches, he said. – Bernama
