KOTA BHARU: Police arrested a couple and seized an AK-47 rifle and 142 bullets in a raid on a house in Kampung Bahagia, Kuala Krai, on Sunday.
Kelantan police chief Shafien Mamat said the raid was conducted at 3.10am after a tip-off from the public.
He said following the arrest of the two, aged 50, police found the weapon along with 16 5.56mm-calibre bullets and 126 12-bore cartridges in their house. The couple did not have a permit for the firearm.
“They are local residents. The husband admitted to being in possession of the firearm for the last five years and that it was given to them by a man from Tanah Merah.
“He claimed he had used it to shoot wild animals like elephants which often encroached into his rubber smallholding. He said he had shot two elephants with the rifle,” Shafien told a press conference at the Kelantan police headquarters here today.
He added that the case was being investigated under Section 8 of the Firearms (Heavier Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960, which carries a jail term, fine and whipping, if convicted.
“Urine tests done on the couple showed they were negative for drugs.
“Police are tracing the man who supplied them the rifle and sold the bullets for RM15 each,” he said.
Shafien said the couple would be held under remand until Dec 19 to facilitate investigations.
He said the case had also been referred to the Kelantan Wildlife Department due the shooting of elephants.