Jeweller's guard turns robber

KUALA LUMPUR - Just over a week after a security guard allegedly shot and killed a bank employee in a robbery, another guard has turned on his employer.

As with the case at the Ambank branch in Subang Jaya, the guard who robbed the goldsmith shop at KL Festival City Mall in Setapak yesterday was also believed to possess a fake MyKad. However, no one was injured in yesterday's incident at 9am.

The guard, believed to be in his mid-20s, had aimed his gun at the branch manager and three employees and took 10 minutes to scoop up a tray of jewellery before escaping.

Deputy Criminal Investigation Department chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Khairi Ahrasa said the guard was believed to be from Sabah.

"The branch manager and three other employees were arranging jewellery at the glass display counters.

"Fearing for their safety, the employees quickly gave him a tray of jewellery when the guard pointed the weapon at the manager," he said at Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday after visiting a police volunteer reserve member who was injured in a high-speed chase in Air Panas, Setapak, on Wednesday.

It is learnt that the suspect had been working at the goldsmith shop for only a month.

"We are checking if the gun used in the robbery is privately-owned or issued by his security firm," said Khairi.

He said police had yet to determine the losses incurred by the goldsmith and urged anyone with information on the robbery to contact the nearest police station.

"We will check the guard's details with the National Registration Department and view closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera recordings."

Store manager Robert Lourdasamy said the guard had ordered him and his three colleagues to "squat and keep quiet" when he pointed the gun at them.

"He said he only wanted the jewellery."

Lourdasamy said the guard seemed friendly during the month when he was working there.

"I'm thankful that we were not harmed, especially after knowing what happened to Norazita (Abu Talib)."

Norazita was the employee who was shot dead in the Ambank robbery.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said it was possible that the security guard had gotten the idea to rob the goldsmith from the Ambank incident. He urged all security companies to vet their personnel and contact the police if any suspicion was raised.