Businessman gunned down in Penang
Pix by LIM BENG TATT.
GEORGE TOWN: A businessman was shot dead at point-blank range in front of a superbike shop in Jalan Datuk Keramat here after being tailed by two men.
The 46-year-old nasi kandar restaurant and car wash centre owner, identified as Syed Amen Jainul Abdin, was shot twice in his head, twice in his chest and once in his arm.
It was believed that he had pulled over his Mercedes Benz E-Class in front of the shop after realising that he was being followed by a motorcycle.
Upon stopping, one of the assailants alighted from the motorcycle and fired six shots, five hitting the businessman while the other missed during the 3.30am incident Thursday.
Penang CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zakaria Ahmad said the assailant also fired another shot towards two Rela personnel guarding the shop which had missed.
"It is too early to establish the motive. We will investigate this from every angle.
"The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder," he told reporters.
The businessmen had allegedly received several death threats in recent years.
On Nov 13 in 2014, one of his cars was torched at his car wash centre after midnight.
A gun was left in his vehicle back in 2012 and he was allegedly threatened twice at his car wash centre after the incident.
The victim had claimed that it was the work of drug dealers who wanted to use his car wash centre as a transit point.
Bernama pix
The businessman who was shot dead Thursday in front of a superbike shop in Penang had been out on bail for accusing the Road Transport Department (JPJ) of corruption in a rant that had gone viral on social media.
The six-minute video that went viral late last year showed Syed Amen Jainul Abdin (pix), 46, outside a JPJ branch as he ranted about not being able to renew a road permit for his car although he claimed that all his documents were in order.
Syed Amen, who ran a nasi kandar restaurant and a car wash centre, claimed trial at the magistrate’s court in George Town on Dec 31, to outraging the modesty of JPJ officer Asymal Mansur, 41, by uttering profanity and also saying, “You all semua makan rasuah” (All of you take bribes).
The alleged incident occurred outside the lobby of the Batu Uban JPJ branch in Gelugor at around 4.45pm on Nov 26.
Syed Amen, from Jalan Tun Dr Awang in Bayan Lepas, replied “yes” when asked if he understood the charges.
The offence under Section 509 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine, or both.
Syed Amen’s defence counsel Rosli Ismail had said that his client owned several vehicles and discovered that he could not renew his road tax.
“I then advised him to go to JPJ to enquire why his vehicles’ road tax could not be renewed.
“When he went to JPJ, the officers informed him that one of his vehicles had been booked in 2013 in Baling, Kedah, and that the same vehicle had also been seized by JPJ in 2003,” he said.
Magistrate L. Umma Devi had granted bail at RM3,000 in one surety, and fixed Feb 17 for mention pending the submission of documents.
Syed Amen was shot dead at point-blank range in front of a superbike shop in Jalan Datuk Keramat after being tailed by two men.
Upon stopping, one of the assailants alighted from the motorcycle and fired six shots, five hitting the businessman while the other missed during the 3.30am incident Thursday.
Penang CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zakaria Ahmad said the assailant also fired another shot towards two Rela personnel guarding the shop which had missed.
"It is too early to establish the motive. We will investigate this from every angle," he said.
