The suspect, Syukri Muhamad Abiah, 37, from Pasir Putih, Kelantan, died in a shootout with a police team at Felda Neram Satu during a raid at about 4.30am today.

According to state Criminal Investigation Department chief Fazlisyam Abd Majid, the man died at the scene after he was shot in the chest and head.

“A police team from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Team and the Kuala Terengganu Police Contingent Headquarters raided a half-completed house after the suspect was tracked down after three months.

“Police had to shoot in self-defence. A check later found him unconscious and he died of gunshot wounds,” Fazlisyam said at the Kemaman police headquarters today. Also present was Kemaman police chief Mohd Said Ibrahim.

Police also found a Norinco semi-automatic gun, a bullet and a parang belonging to the suspect at the scene.

Fazlisyam said the suspect was a criminal high on the wanted list for investigations into murder and kidnapping cases in Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang, and police believe, following the suspect’s death, they have solved several murder cases in these states.

He added that police have not ruled out that the suspect who has a wife and three children and had been arrested several times for violent crimes and imprisoned in 2001 for harming his victims, was also a hired assassin.

“We believe the suspect had many friends who helped hide him from the police,” he said.