BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 9 — A policeman whose pistol went off in an alleged suicide attempt at his Tasek Gelugor home near here last Sunday, is receiving psychiatric treatment at the Penang Hospital.

In the 4pm incident in Kampung Setol, the bullet from the Walther P99 shattered a floor tile, causing its broken pieces to injure his wife and two young sons in the feet.

Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Ghafar Rajab said the 33-year-old who had served the force for nine years was warded at the hospital’s psychiatric ward.

The man was remanded for four days to facilitate investigations, he told reporters after closing a seminar on Strengthening Integration and Professionalism at the Seberang Perai Polytechnic here today.

It was learnt that when the policeman who was armed with the pistol, allegedly attempted to take his life, his 27-year-old wife attempted to snatch away the firearm.

However, the gun went off and the bullet shattered the floor tile.

Abdul Ghafar said this was an isolated case and the policeman was a good employee with no disciplinary record.

"If it was depression or other problems, we have the experts to give counselling but according to initial reports, the policeman had said he heard voices forcing to him act (fire),” he said.

The police were also probing if the man had work-related problems, he added.

He said the policeman’s wife and two children, aged three and five were being treated at the Seberang Jaya Hospital. — Bernama