Suspect in Kepong cop attack believed to have had a mental disorder
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the information came from a report lodged by an acquaintance of the suspect
SHAH ALAM - The foreign national who attacked a policeman, leaving him with a severed wrist, in Desa Aman Puri, Kepong, last Wednesday is believed to have had a mental disorder.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the information came from a report lodged by an acquaintance of the suspect.
"According to the report, the suspect was believed to have a mental disorder and was behaving aggressively at the residential unit.
"This prompted police and personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to step in, assess the situation and take the necessary action,” he told a press conference at the Selangor Police Contingent Headquarters here today.
It was reported yesterday that a 26-year-old police lance corporal suffered serious injuries when a foreign national rushed out of a residential unit wielding two machetes and attacked him before being shot dead by police.
Shazeli said police believed the suspect had been mentally unstable, adding that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was continuing its investigation into the incident, including checks at his residence to gather more information.
"We are still investigating what may have caused the suspect’s mental disorder, including by gathering information from his friends,” he said.
On claims that the policeman had difficulty avoiding the attack due to conditions at the scene, Shazeli said the confined space and the presence of personnel from other agencies posed challenges during the operation.
"We have standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place, but how officers respond in critical situations depends on their judgement. The policeman may have suffered a slash wound to his right wrist while trying to defend himself,” he said.
Shazeli said that a post-mortem examination on the suspect was scheduled for this morning, while the injured policeman was reported to be in stable condition after undergoing surgery to reattach his severed hand yesterday.
He added that police had recorded statements from more than 20 witnesses, including neighbours, other residents and acquaintances of the suspect, to assist in the investigation.
"So far, no further arrests have been made. The suspect had been living at the residence with a local tenant, and police will be recording statements from several more people to assist in the investigation,” he said. - BERNAMA
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