BUTTERWORTH, March 4 — The family of E. Selvakumar, 54, who was shot dead in his car on Sunday night, claimed he was innocent and could have been a “victim of circumstances”.
A relative, who declined to be named, said at the family home in Taman Villa Palma here that Selvakumar was “just being with a friend” when the incident occurred at the intersection of Jalan Scotland and Jalan York at 9.30pm.
She said Selvakumar, a security company manager, was “a nice man who was friendly with everyone”
Selvakumar was killed instantly when a motorcycle pulled up next to his car and the pillion rider opened fire seven times.
Selvakumar’s friend, aged 61, escaped unhurt.
State CID deputy chief SAC Datuk Mazlan Kesah said he did not rule out revenge or gang rivalry as the motive.
Police believe the friend, who owns a restaurant in Prai, was targeted but Selvakumar was killed by mistake.
Sources said the friend was targeted by a gunman at his house in January last year but escaped.
Police believe he had been involved with a secret society.
George Town district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said police arrested three suspects, aged 28, 29, and 51 during an early morning raid yesterday and remanded them for questioning.
