‘Assassin’ hid in small towns

KUALA LUMPUR - After being on the run for 55 days, seeking refuge in small towns in the northern states, Sei Ngan Chai, the man suspected of gunning down Arab Malaysian Development Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi, has been arrested.

Hiding in small towns seemed like the perfect plan as many people in these places were not aware of the high-profile murder.

The serious crime unit from KL police headquarters ambushed a house in Kampung Larut Tin Tambahan in Taiping and nabbed the suspect, 44, and two men who were harbouring him.

The men, aged 31 and 26, were friends of the suspect. Initial investigations revealed the suspect had been moving from one location to another in the northern states. His plan was probably to cross the border and flee to Thailand.

City CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said police believed the suspect had been nomadic to avoid being detected.

“We believe he has been in the house, in Taiping for four weeks now.”

The suspect gunman had also changed his appearance throughout the time he was on the run.
Among others, he had shaved off his moustache.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspect was under custody at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.

Khalid said interrogations were on going, and that, “The raiding police team did not find the gun used during the shooting but we are confident of solving the case soon.”

Khalid also revealed the shooter was an underworld gang member but declined to comment further, saying investigations were on-going.

The motive of the murder was allegedly due to a prime land deal worth RM100 million in Lorong Ceylon belonging to the Kuan Yin temple.

Negotiations for the sale of the land had been going on since late March.

Two women, aged 61 and 47, believed to be the temple trustees and partial owners of the land, were arrested and later released.

Police believed the two women, who were in the temple compound during the incident, played an integral part in negotiating the land deal.

Hussain was allegedly overseeing the deal as an observer or adviser as his wife, Cheong Mei Kuan, was a regular visitor to the temple.

Hussain and his wife had met with a man over the land deal on July 29.

After the meeting, they spent a few minutes in the temple before walking to the car park, where he was gunned down by the killer, who was lying in wait for him.

The hitman was believed to have been paid about RM20,000.

The suspect caught yesterday had two criminal records for possession of stolen goods and extortion.

A taxi driver who transported the shooter was arrested and charged for possession of firearm last month.