MANJUNG: A Thai fisherman was shot in the head in the waters of Pantai Remis yesterday.
Sources told Harian Metro that the victim was on his employer's boat with another worker at the time of the incident.
Suddenly another fishing boat, manned by about 10 suspects believed to be Indonesians, approached the victim.
"The suspects then boarded the victim's boat and fired shots at the victim before fleeing," the sources said.
Meanwhile, Manjung district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Nordin Abdullah, confirmed they received a report made by the victim's employer at 12.20pm.
He said the male complainant informed the police that one of his workers was shot dead by a group of criminals suspected to be Indonesians while on the complainant's boat at the position of latitude 45712.°N 991436.°E.
"The complainant was notified by his employee via walkie-talkie to travel back to the fish platform at Pantai Remis.
"A preliminary police investigation found that the victim died with a gunshot wound to the head and his body was sent to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh for a post-mortem examination.
"The case is investigated according to Section 302 of the Penal Code and if found guilty, the perpetrator can be sentenced to death," he said in a statement today.
He said that the police are actively tracking the group of suspects involved and the motive for the crime is still being investigated.
"Members of the public with any information related to the case are urged to contact the investigating officer, Assistant Superintendent Mohd Azalan Ab Karim at 019-392 7837 to assist in the investigation," he added.