Foreigner held for possessing homemade rifle

LocalPolitics
6 Jun 2025 • 11:52 AM MYT
Daily Express
Daily Express

Daily Express Online (Malaysia) is Sabah's top-ranked & most viewed English news site. It is also Sabah's leading & most circulated daily English newspaper.

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By: Lagatah Toyos

TAWAU: A 39-year-old foreign man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly possessing a homemade air rifle hidden in his home at Felda Tengah 2.

Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said the suspect was detained during a raid conducted by a team from Kalabakan Police Station following intelligence gathering and tip-offs.

According to him, no illegal items were found during a body search of the suspect, but initial questioning revealed that the man failed to present any valid identification documents.

window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“Further inspection of the house, guided by the suspect, led police to discover a homemade air rifle concealed inside the premises,” he said.

Jasmin said the weapon was confiscated and is believed to have been intended for specific purposes, possibly related to crime prevention or personal protection.

“The case is being investigated by the Tawau District Criminal Investigation Department under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said.

He also urged the public to report any information related to criminal activities or suspicious behavior in their areas, including possession of homemade firearms, to the authorities.

“The police will not compromise with any individual found in possession of unlicensed firearms,” he said.