MELAKA, Sept 23 — A police corporal was killed in a struggle to detain a suspect in an operation, code-named “Ops Lejang”, at Taman Teknologi Cheng here today.
Melaka police chief SAC Datuk Chua Ghee Lye said Zal-Azri Abdul Somad, 31, from the Crime Intelligence Division (D4) of the Melaka Police Contingent, died at the scene from injuries on the head and face that were inflicted with a blunt object.
He said the operation was conducted to arrest a group of men who were suspected of stealing scrap metal at a factory in the Cheng Industrial Area early today.
“Three suspects, aged 17, 22 and 23, were detained,” he told reporters here today.
He said the incident occurred about 8am when Zal-Azri went after the 17-year-old suspect who attempted to flee, during which a struggle broke out between the two men.
Chua said other members of the police team found Zal-Azri, who was then unconscious, about 25 metres away, but the policeman later succumbed to his injuries.
He said the suspect who fled was rearrested at Krubong about three hours later.
Chua said Zal-Azri had been with the police force for more than 10 years and was transferred to the Melaka contingent about two months ago from Alor Gajah.
Zal-Azri’s body will be sent back to his hometown in Penang for burial.
He left wife, Atiqah Mohd Rosdi @ Mohd Rodi, 29, and two sons, four-year-old Mohamad Habibullah and Mohamad Atiqullah, who is five months old. — Bernama
