A 19-year-old bank robber who held a woman hostage with a sickle at her neck was shot dead by a security guard, reported NST.
The incident happened at 2.04pm on 18 June in Air Tawar 5, Johor.
District police chief Superintendent Ashmon Bajah said the robber was seen walking into the bank with a sickle before holding the weapon to one of the bank customer’s neck.
“Acting to protect customers and the bank staff, the on-duty security guard fired his pump-gun at the robber and hit him at his right rib. The robber was declared dead at the scene,” he said.
“His body was taken to the Sultan Ismail Hospital for post-mortem. No one was injured in the incident including the hostage and the bank staff.”
Meanwhile, a woman at the scene said it was the first time she had witnessed a robbery.
Trader Nurul Izzati Kamali, 23, said the surrounding area was quiet before the robbery took place and that there were several people queueing and waiting for their turn to enter the bank.
“Suddenly, a robber armed with what looked like a sickle grabbed a woman who was in front of the queue and the bank shutters were pulled down and there was shouting coming from inside (the bank) asking for money,” she said.
“Residents at the scene had called the police and several of them guarded the bank’s front and back doors, making sure the robber would not escape.”
“Several minutes later, there were knocking sounds coming from the door and the police were ready to intercept if it was the robber who came out from the bank.”
“Instead, several customers came out and some of them were crying and in a state of shock.”
It was revealed that the robber did not have a criminal record and that the case is being investigated under Section 307 and Section 393 of the Penal Code for attempted murder and attempt to commit robbery.
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