JEMPOL: A 62-year-old man was arrested by the police following a report that he had made attempts to shoot a squirrel several times at Felda Palong Lapan, here.
Jempol district Police Chief, Superintendent Muhd Nur Hishamuddin Hashim, said in the 8am incident on Saturday, the man’s action was noticed by a resident, who was also his neighbour.
The complainant, a 40-year-old woman, had initially heard gunfire before checking from the windows of her house and saw the suspect carrying a shotgun walking towards a durian tree in front of her house.
“The suspect came to the woman’s house at 2pm and chopped the durian tree in front of the house. The suspect’s action had prompted the woman to confront the man.
“She was scolded by the suspect who told her that she was only renting there and had no right to prevent him from shooting or cutting down the tree,” he said in a statement here today.
Muhd Nur Hishamuddin said the woman then lodged a report at Geddes Estate Police Station at 4pm on the same day as she was worried about her and her family’s safety.
He said investigation found that the suspect cut down the tree because he wanted to shoot the squirrel.
“The suspect also claimed that the tree was cut down to prevent squirrels from using the tree as a shelter.
“We have recorded statements from the suspect and he was released this morning. We have also seized the shotgun and the case is being investigated under Section 39 of the Firearms Act 1960,” he said.