SHAH ALAM: The gun used during a fatal robbery in Puchong was stolen from a policeman murdered in 2017, with the suspect linked to six other armed robberies.

       Investigations by police into the suspect caught on Friday following the robbery in Puchong Prima which left one security guard dead showed that the firearm had belonged to Lance Corporal Valentino Mesa.

       The policeman was found murdered with slash and gunshot wounds at the Penggiran USJ police station on Aug 31, 2017.

       “We are investigating if the weapon was used in other robberies linked to the suspect,” Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed told reporters at the contingent police headquarters here yesterday.

       Another security guard was also injured in the murder-robbery, during which the suspect had attacked them as they parked their van in front of the Hong Leong bank in Taman Puchong Prima.

       “The guards were offloading around RM1,031,000 at the time of the robbery,” he said.

       While the survivors managed to escape with the van, some RM500,000 was stolen by the suspect whom police have dubbed a “lone wolf”.

       “After the robbery, the suspect attempted to deposit the cash at another bank where he was arrested,” said Comm Arjunaidi.

       Police caught the suspect at the Section 20 Maybank on Friday night and found the gun and part of the stolen cash. Around RM350,000 in cash was recovered.

       Comm Arjunaidi said the quick arrest was due to the help of an informant.

       “We received very detailed information of the suspect’s whereabouts following the robbery from an informant that we cannot identify publicly. This person is a hero,” he said.

       Further investigations are under way to see if the suspect has any links to secret societies or gangs.