Murat, an eight-year-old German Shepherd today received the medal from state police chief Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd during the Johor police headquarters’ monthly assembly.

The canine, which had been serving in the Royal Malaysian Police for six years, helped the police closing in on two members of the notorious “Gang Kapak” in an operation at an oil palm plantation in Kluang on Nov 16.

Its handler, Lance Corporal Hardin Anak Ng Lang, said Murat had so far assisted police in solving four cases throughout its stint.

“In the ‘Gang Kapak’ case, it was raining at that time but we (Murat and I) continued with the operation at 9.30am.

“After 30 minutes, we managed to track down the suspects near a river,” he told reporters after the ceremony at the state police headquarters here.

Hardin said in addition to locating criminals, Murat had also helped in detecting missing persons.