Kedah police chief Asri Yusoff said the investigation also found that the shotgun theft was masterminded by a Selama Rela officer who sold the firearms to his close friends, also Rela members, and to members of the public.

“He sold them cheaply at between RM1,000 and RM3,000 but the punishment (for the offence) would be very heavy. The media should explain to all that the penalty for illegal sale and possession of firearms is heavy,” he told a press conference at the Kedah police contingent headquarters here yesterday.

Asri said police were now conducting investigations under Section 7(2) of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, as trading in firearms is an offence punishable under the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment with not less than six strokes of the cane.

“We are also investigating 13 other suspects under Section 8 of the same act for possessing firearms without a licence, which carries a jail term of up to 14 years and six strokes of the cane, as well as Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960 for possessing bullets, which is punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or both.”

Asri said police were tracking down more suspects and tracing another 12 shotguns which are still missing.

“We have identified them (suspects) to be around in Perak and we are urging them to surrender their illegal firearms at the nearest police station,” he said.

He said so far, 14 Rela shotguns had been recovered from 14 suspects aged between 29 and 56.

“We arrested six of them around Taiping, three in Selama, two in Kerian and one in Gerik, Perak while two suspects were picked up in Kuala Muda, Kedah.

“We also seized 300 12-gauge ammunition. Police are zeroing on their purpose of acquiring the firearms, whether it was related to militant elements or not,” he said.

Asri said the suspects were being remanded for further investigation and would be charged in court at the districts in which they were nabbed.