KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — The police have detained a Special Branch policeman in connection with the murder of his colleague who was found dead with two gunshot wounds in Bukit Persekutuan yesterday.

The 33-year-old suspect was picked up when he surrendered at the Jalan Travers police station about 7 last night.

The police have not ruled out the probability that the killing of Lance Corporal T. Thivakaran, 37, of Chemor, Perak was fuelled by revenge.

He had sustained a gunshot wound each in the face and right eye. Initial police investigations revealed the assailant had shot the victim at close range.

The victim, who joined the force in 1997, was a bachelor who resided in Taman Kinrara, Puchong.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh said the police would apply for a seven-day remand order today, on the suspect to facilitate investigations.

He said the police had seized a pistol - believed to be the murder weapon - from the suspect, together with several related documents.

Mohmad was speaking to reporters after attending a function to hand over Crime Prevention Club signboards to schools in the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Federal Territory areas here today.

He said initial investigations had revealed that Thivakaran was unarmed when he was shot by the assailant, adding that the police were in the midst of determining the motive behind the murder.

Yesterday, a police team found the policeman’s body in Jalan Negeri Sembilan, Bukit Persekutuan. Two 9mm bullet casings, motorcycle, helmet and a jacket were found nearby.

In another case, Mohmad said 87 police reports were lodged in connection with a Chinese New Year video uploaded on YouTube, purportedly aimed at causing public mischief.

He said the police would refer the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

In the 12-minute video, Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok acted as an emcee to interview three guests on feng shui for the Chinese New Year, and they had mocked several matters, including the national leadership, education system and security in Sabah. — Bernama