Robbery suspect fatally stabbed

KUALA LUMPUR: A robbery attempt ended in bloodshed when one of the suspected robbers was accidentally stabbed in the groin during a scuffle with his victim.

However, police have yet to determine whether the man was stabbed by his victim in self-defence or accidentally knifed by one of his accomplices.

The incident happened at a bridge near Kenanga Wholesale City on Saturday.

The suspected robber, identified as 24-year-old Adib Iqbal, died at 11pm at Hospital Kuala Lumpur due to severe groin injuries.

It is believed that he and two friends had attempted to rob a passer-by near the bridge but the intended victim fought back.

A scuffle had reportedly broken out between the four men resulting in Adib being wounded.

A witness from the nearby flats claimed that Adib was accidentally stabbed by one of his friends.

He said he had heard a loud scream coming from outside his unit at around 7pm and hurried to the balcony in time to witness the whole incident.

It is believed that the accomplice had missed the robbery victim, and instead stabbed Adib by accident.

The witness told reporters that the man who had stabbed Adib fled the scene.

The robbery victim also ran away around the same time.

Police have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the incident.

The suspect has confessed that he and two friends, including Adib, had attempted to rob a passer-by.

“We believe that the three men were responsible for several other robberies in the past and their targets were primarily Bangladeshis,” said Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Ahmad.

He added that the suspect will be under remand until Nov 9 to facilitate investigations.

“Search for the third member is ongoing,” said ACP Zainuddin.

However, the deceased’s father, when met at the HKL mortuary yesterday morning claimed that his son was killed in an argument with a stranger.

“We rushed to the scene when Adib’s friend informed us about the attack,” said the 56-year-old stall owner.

Adib was an unemployed divorcee and had a three-year-old daughter.