KOTA KINABALU: Police arrested a 30 year-old man and seized 31 fake firearms in a raid on Thursday (Nov 27).
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said one firearm was found in the suspect’s vehicle while 30 others were found in his house.
“Acting on a tip-off, a police team stopped a silver Toyota Prado TZ driven by the suspect near Kedai 7-Eleven, Lido at 10.30 pm on Nov 27.
Following anexamination, they found a black sniper rifle on the rear seat of the vehicle,” he told reporters here, today.
The suspect, a budget hotel supervisor, then led to police to 30 fake firearms kept in a storeroom of his house in Taman BDC, Kelombong.
They include pistol (7), A30 launcher (1), magazine (32), plastic/rubber bullets (112,000 rounds), smoke grenade (14 boxes), green gas (43 bottles) and grenade launchers (7).
Jalaluddin said initial investigations found the suspect had bought fake firearms since 2009 from a Chinese national here known as ‘lau pan’ or ‘boss’.
The suspect admitted to selling 30 fake firearms to enthusiasts in Sandakan, Kota Marudu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching (Sarawak).
He was also adept at handling and repairing the firearms vlaued at between RM600 to RM1,600 each, and had repaired 10 firearms.
The case is investigated under Section 36 (1) of the Firearms Act 1960 for possessing fake firearms which carries a jail sentence of up to one year or a fine up to RM5,000 or both.
Police are investigating the suspect’s background and tracing the buyers of the fake firearms. – BERNAMA