KLIA Heist: CCTVs not switched on during shoot-out

KUALA LUMPUR: The closed-circuit television cameras outside the Kuala Lumpur International Airport departure hall were not switched on during the shoot-out.

And it was also revealed that the off-duty policeman, who was initially thought to have been caught in the crossfire, was involved in the shoot-out with the gunmen.

The policeman, however, was hit twice and his police-issued semi-automatic pistol was taken by the gunmen.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said checks showed the CCTVs were switched on again after the five-minute shoot-out.

"It has hampered police investigations. We were hoping that the footages from the CCTVs could have provided us with information about the gunmen," Bakri said.
"What's the point of having CCTVs if they are not switched on? It is not for decorative purposes."

Bakri declined to elaborate on the matter but said police were working on several leads, including photofits of the suspects, based on eye-witness accounts.

"We believe that at least two of the gunmen were injured in the shoot-out. We are on the lookout for those seeking treatment for gunshot wounds."

Police are pulling out files on Indian gangs who were linked to similar robberies in the past as the gunmen who shot the moneychangers on Wednesday were said to be of dark complexion and had shouted instructions in Tamil.

The gunmen were believed to have escaped in two four-wheel drives, believed to be a BMW and a Toyota Hilux. Until press time, no arrests have been made, nor have the vehicles been spotted.

Bakri did not discount the possibility that the robbery was an inside job as very few people knew of the moneychangers' movements on Wednesday.

Malaysia Airports Berhad senior general manager (operations) Da-tuk Azmi Murad refused to comment on the CCTVs.

"This is a police case. Let the police comment on this," he said, adding that it was helping police in the investigations.

When pressed further, he said the CCTVs were operated by it.

Two CCTVs are visible at the driveway outside the departure hall.

Source: The New Straits Times

Backround story:

KILL ’EM ALL

... Gunman’s chilling scream in daring RM3.3m KLIA robbery

THE chilling cry was: “Kill ‘em all.” Those were the terrifying words screamed in Tamil by a gunman just before he and his three accomplices opened fi re on two money changers and their armed security escorts in a daring RM3.5 million robbery at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday.

This ambush, at 7.50pm, happened in full view of security personnel and airport users at the entrance to the departure hall. The ensuing gun battle between the robbers and the escorts left five people injured.

Police recovered 40 spent shell casings at the scene in what has been described as the most daring robbery in a highsecurity area.

The manner in which this gang, yet to be identified by police, pulled it off, indicates it was a do-or-die mission.

The last major incident at an airport was in Nov 20, 2006, when 20 men in Rela uniform raided a warehouse at the Batu Maung Free Commercial Zone in Penang and made off with RM50 million worth of microchips. On Aug 31, 1994, the Mamak Gang pulled off a RM10 million gold bar heist at Subang Airport.

Injured in the crossfi re was a Nepalese man, Lal Bahadur Shrees, 29, who was to take a flight home, and an off-duty police officer, Lance Corporal Zainuddin Mat Isa, 39, who were hit in the legs by stray bullets.

Others injured in their legs and thighs were security guard Ahmad Suhaime Mohd Yussop, 49, and money changers Muhamad Fadzil Amanullah Khan, 20, and Buhakri Abdullah, 22.

One of the victims, Nagur Gani, 36, was among the three money changers in the group. He was the only one in the group who wasn’t injured in the gun battle.

He said the group, from their offi ce in Kuala Lumpur, had gone to KLIA to conduct a monetary transaction with another group.

He said they were carrying a bag filled with SGD1.5 (RM3.5 million) to exchange it for Indonesian rupiahs with another party.

His group, he said, had arrived at Gate 7, and alighted from their four-wheel drive vehicle.

They were walking towards Gate 8 when he felt something amiss.

“As we were walking, I could see two men approaching us. I felt uneasy and pointed them out to our security guard,” he said.

However, just as their armed escort was about to draw his weapon from his holster, the two men drew out their fi rearms and fired into the air.

“I heard one of the men speak in Tamil, ‘Kill them all’,” he said.

Terrified, Nagur said he tried to turn back but to his shock, saw two more gunmen behind.

“At that point, I just collapsed to the ground. I was so afraid for my life that I broke down and wept,” he said.

Nagur was visibly upset over the incident and refused to speak further to reporters.

Nepali worker Lal Bahadur Shrees, 29, and Lance Corporal Zainuddin Mat Isa, 39.

It is learnt that Zainuddin, attached to the Sepang criminal investigation department, was off-duty and had gone to KLIA to meet a friend when he got caught in the crossfire. Lal, meanwhile, was being sent home to Nepal by his employer when he got hit by a stray bullet (see accompanying story).

It is understood that the money changers’ security guard exchanged fire with the robbers but he too, was injured after being fi red upon. Police found some 40 spent cartridges at the location.

The stray bullets also shattered the glass doors and windows of five glass windows between Gate 8 and Gate 7.

Sepang police chief Supt Zahedi Ayub said that as the victims alighted their vehicle and were walking, the four victims were shot at and as they were lying down on the fl oor, one of the robbers grabbed the bag containing the money and fl ed.

“It is believed that between four and six robbers who did not wear any mask were involved in the robbery. They were dark-skinned and believed to be locals.

“Based on preliminary investigations, it appears that the robbers knew the movements of the victims. It is categorised as an organised crime,” he said.

All the victims suffered light injuries in the thighs and feet and were treated at the Pusrawi Clinic at the KLIA before being sent to Putrajaya Hospital for further treatment.

Police, meanwhile, were baffl ed as to why the group was carrying so much cash with them. A senior police officer told The Malay Mail that they would also look into this aspect as part of their investigation.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, declined to comment.

“It’s still early days. We are investigating the case.”

Source: The Malay Mail