Police tackling murder case from all angles

ALL EYES ON 'TUHAN HARUN': No previous record of violence among deviant groups, says Jakim

AUTHORITIES working round the clock to solve the murder of Pahang Islamic Religious Department (Jaip) enforcement head Ahmad Rafli Abdul Malek believe they could be looking at a deviant sect operating on a whole new level.

Senior Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) enforcement officers, who refused to be named, said in the history of deviant groups in the country, no followers had ever carried weapons or used them to commit crimes.

Although police had not linked the murder to any deviant teachings, they did not rule out the involvement of the outlawed "Tuhan Harun" sect in the case.

Investigators said they could not confirm that "Tuhan Harun" members were not armed. It is not known what ideology the sect, led by Harun Mat Saat, follows.

Religious enforcement officers also revealed that none of the deviant groups they probed in the past were involved in terrorist activities.

In the incident on Sunday, Ahmad Rafli was taking down curtains at his home in Indera Mahkota 2, Kuantan, when a car with three men inside pulled up outside. As he was giving the salam (greeting) to the men, one of whom was wearing a kopiah (skull cap), one of them pulled out a gun and shot him three times. Two shots hit the chest, killing him instantly.

Colleagues said he was a "no-nonsense" enforcement chief who regularly conducted raids on entertainment outlets. He was to said to have led the Jaip team to the eventual smashing of the "Tuhan Harun" sect in the state and the arrest of 31 of its members.

However, there have been no record of the victim receiving any threats.

After a task force meeting on Monday, police put together a photofit of one of the three suspects involved in the case.

Investigators believe it is 70 per cent accurate.

The wanted poster of the suspect depicts a stocky Malay man in his 50s.

State police chief Datuk Sharifuddin Ab Ghani said police had yet to identify the second suspect, believed to have been the shooter, or a third suspect, who was driving the getaway car, a white Proton Wira Aeroback.

He denied claims that the suspects' car had been found in Pekan, but confirmed that the vehicle had been spotted near the victim's house before the incident.

Sharifuddin said police were monitoring information in cyberspace closely and recorded the statements of several individuals.

Several "Tuhan Harun" followers had their statements recorded at the district police station yesterday.

One of them, identified only as Rahim, refuted claims that they were a militant or extremist group as they had never been taught to take revenge, show hatred or use violence.

"I was a follower for over a year and most of our activities involved playing music, singing divine songs and giving love. We would never kill an innocent human being and we were not angered by Jaip's arrest of 31 of the group's members," said the 46-year-old.

Ahmad (not his real name), 30, expressed shock over Rafli's murder and refuted claims that "Tuhan Harun" followers were behind it.

"I'm saddened by the incident and that is the reason I came forward to help in the investigation."

Ahmad said he had left the movement and had never contacted Harun since.

Rahim and Ahmad both said they did not recognise the person in the police photofit.

Sharifuddin said while investigators had urged members of "Tuhan Harun" to surrender, their probe into the case also would cover other angles. He advised those with information to contact investigation officer Assistant Superintendent Zukri Muhammad at 013-9764999, or the nearest police station.

Read more: Police tackling murder case from all angles - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/police-tackling-murder-case-from-all-angles-1.399352#ixzz2kUIuizkn