Cop cleaning pistol shoots boy

IPOH - A 10-year-old boy is fighting for his life after an off-duty policeman accidentally fired a shot while cleaning his service revolver.

The incident happened at about 4.30pm on Monday at a house in Kampung Belanja Kiri, Parit, 60km from here.

It was learnt that the policeman, a sergeant, was at his mother-in-law's house cleaning his pistol when it went off.

The bullet hit Mohd Amar Mohd Azizi, who was playing about 40m away.

An X-ray done at Batu Gajah Hospital found a bullet lodged in his throat.

He had the bullet removed at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital here.

Amar is warded at the hospital's paediatric intensive care unit for further treatment.

Perak Tengah deputy district police chief Deputy Superintendent Leong Ah Kow confirmed the incident.

He said initial investigations revealed that the policeman had accidently discharged the pistol while cleaning it.

"About 45 minutes later, police were informed by a member of the public that a boy was shot and had been rushed to a clinic."

The suspect's pistol, a Walther P-99 automatic, and a magazine with 14 bullets had been seized.

Leong said the bullet had been recovered.

Police had classified the case for discharging firearms in a public area under Section 39 of the Arms Act 1960.

The sergeant, who is an investigating officer based at the Taiping district police station, had been remanded.

A source said he would face disciplinary action.