Police have obtained a video footage of the murder of businessman Syed Amen from the security camera of a motorcycle shop

Cops obtain video footage of businessman’s murder

BY R. SEKARAN, CHONG KAH YUAN, andM. SIVANANTHA SHARMAthestar

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GEORGE TOWN: Police have obtained a video footage of the murder of businessman Syed Amen Jainul Abdin and are confident of nabbing the killer and his accomplice soon.

The police obtained the video from the security camera of a motorcycle shop near where the victim had stopped his car.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the killer and his accomplice were believed to be locals.

He said the video showed that the killer was a motorcycle pillion rider dressed in a T-shirt and jeans.

After the victim stopped his car, they went ahead a little and then doubled back to make the kill.

“While his accomplice waited on the bike, he got off and walked a few steps to Syed Amen’s car with a gun in hand.

“We are now in the process of identifying the killers,” said Asst Comm Mior during a press conference at the Jelutong police station yesterday.

He also warned the public about speculating on the motive of the murder.

“I read outrageous theories on social media about the killers being hired by Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers, or that Syed Amen was killed because of his involvement with the Line Clear Nasi Kandar business dispute.

“Our checks show that he was a distant relative of the Line Clear Nasi Kandar operators and that he was never involved in the disputes,” said Mior.

The car wash centre and nasi kandar restaurant owner was shot twice in the head, twice in the chest and once in the arm at point-blank range near Komtar at 3.30am on Thursday.

His wife Masita Abu Bakar, 46, said she had not lodged any police reports yet as she was still consulting her lawyer.

“I am at a loss. I am asking my lawyer before I take further action.

“I have not seen the video footage yet. I am trying to be strong now to tie up the loose ends and take up my husband’s business roles,” she said after collecting the RM1,500 in funeral expenses benefit from the Social Security Organisation (Socso) office with her sister Munirah, 40.

A check on the murder victim’s car wash centre showed that it had reopened for business after being closed on Thursday.

Nepalese Binod Thapa, 29, who had worked there for the last five years, said the workers mourned his death.

Meanwhile, Pertubuhan Pembela Nasib Melayu Malaysia (Gerakan Merah) president Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju, said Syed Amen was a Gerakan Merah member and urged the public with information on the murder to make police reports.

He told a press conference at a restaurant on the mainland yesterday that he believed the shooter was a professional killer and urged the police to expedite investigations.

Syed Amen had caused a commotion at the Batu Uban JPJ office last September when he accused the department of corruption besides claiming his life was in danger when he could not renew the road tax of several vehicles.

He was charged at a magistrate’s court here on Dec 31 with outraging the modesty of a JPJ officer by uttering profanities and also saying “You all semua makan rasuah” (All of you take bribes) outside the lobby of the JPJ branch.

The court had fixed Feb 17 for mention of the case.