MALACCA: A Customs Department senior enforcement officer sustained injuries after he was hit by two of five shots fired by a gang of criminals here yesterday.
State police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said Rosli Aziz was injured in his shoulder and left palm in the 7.20am incident in front of his house in Sungai Air Hitam, Taman Tanjung Minyak, here.
Rosli, 53, was opening his front door before leaving for work in Bandar Hilir here when he was approached by four men armed with pistols, he said at the state police headquarters here.
The suspects, who were believed to have been waiting 15m outside the gate, fired the shots before fleeing in a red Proton Iswara car after the Rosli pulled out his gun and fired back at them.
Chuah said police found three 9mm bullet shells outside Rosli's gate.
Rosli, who was with his wife when the incident occurred, was sent by his neighbour to Malacca Hospital.
"Police do not dismiss the possibility that revenge could be the motive for the shooting, especially since the victim is a Customs enforcement officer working to curb smuggling activities.
"We believe there may be people who have ill feelings towards him as a Molotov cocktail had been thrown into his house compound before."
However, he said police were also investigating if the same gang were involved in the two incidents.
Meanwhile, state Customs director Datuk Mohd Nasir Said said they believed the incident was a warning from members of a smuggling syndicate who were angry with the Customs Department over the arrest of a gang member, adding that the incident would not deter its officers from discharging their duties. Bernama
posted from Bloggeroid