BUKIT MERTAJAM, 26 Aug 2008: Three masked robbers fired several shots at a money changer at Bayan Lepas International Airport, but made off only with a clothing bag today.
“One of the bullets hit the victim’s abdomen and the other the right thigh. His ear was also hurt but we are not sure what was the cause,” said acting state commercial crime chief Supt Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif.
The victim was admitted to the Penang Hospital and his condition was reported to be stable. “Doctors are trying to remove two bullets from the victim’s body,” he told Bernama today.
Shaharon said the incident happened at 9.30am when the money changer was
pushing a trolley with the clothing bag in it into the airport lobby after picking up another bag which contained various currency notes worth RM1.9 million from a security firm’s vehicle.
The robbers, aged between 20 and 40, only managed to snatch the clothing
bag from the trolley and fled in a black Toyota Harrier vehicle before the police stationed at the airport came, he said.
He said police later found the getaway vehicle, which did not have a registration plate, at a construction site near the airport.
“Police are investigating and mounting up roadblocks on Penang island and have been able to trace the vehicle owner based on its chassis number,” Shaharon said.
He said police were investigating the case under Section 395 of the Penal Code for armed robbery and Section 13 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.
On 9 April, two money changers, two security guards and two passers-by – a Nepalese and a police officer – were shot and wounded during a robbery at an entrance of the KL International Airport at 7.50pm.
The robbers made off with Singaporean currency notes worth about RM3.3 million. –Bernama
