GEORGE TOWN: A couple, believed to be involved in a string of criminal activities including the murder of a man at the Sungai Pinang flats back in 2019, have been detained by police.
State Criminal Investigations Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Rahimi Mohd Ra'ais said police detained the 35-year-old man in Jelutong on the morning of Nov 3.
He said checks on the suspect, who is unemployed, led police to the recovery of a Beretta Brigadier pistol along with a magazine and 11 9mm bullets.
Also seized were three cellphones, a motorcycle, a sling bag and a walkie-talkie.
"Following his arrest, we nabbed a 30-year-old woman, who is the suspect's girlfriend at a condominium at Jalan Fettes. She works as a cook at an eatery here.
"Based on further investigation, we believed that both suspects were connected to the murder of a man in Sungai Pinang two years ago," he told newsmen at the state police contingent headquarters here today.
Rahimi said police were still probing if the couple were involved with any secret society.
"We are investigating further if the two suspects were planning other crimes following the recovery of the firearms.
"This is because both of them have previous records. The man had 14 previous criminal records and three drug records, while the woman has a drug record," he added.
Rahimi said the suspects are currently under remand under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for possession of firearm without a valid permit.
The case is also probed under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 for possession of live bullets without a valid permit.