IPOH, Dec 3 — Five youths armed with pistols and a hammer took the shine out of four illegal gold traders when they robbed them of RM1.4 million at a petrol station last night.

Earlier, two of the four victims who had arrived in a Mercedes Benz car went to buy food at the petrol station near the Tapah rest and service area about 9.30pm.

Perak police chief Datuk Osman Salleh said at that juncture, a Toyota Vios stopped in front of the Mercedes Benz while a Honda Civic came to a halt from behind.

“Five youths, some wearing masks and others using cloth to conceal their faces alighted from the two vehicles before smashing the windscreen of the Mercedes Benz and its rear passenger window.

“Two of them trained their pistols at the two victims seated in the car while an accomplice brandished a hammer.

“One of the robbers opened the boot of the Mercedes Benz and took away RM1.4 million which was kept in two separate boxes.

“They escaped in the two cars which we believe were stolen,” he told reporters here today.

He said the victims, aged between 20 and 30 were illegal gold traders bound for Kuala Lumpur from Penang when they stopped to buy food at the petrol station.

Earlier, Osman closed the Royal Malaysian Police Crime Prevention seminar here today. — Bernama