KUALA LUMPUR – Hafizul Harawi, the 38-year-old suspected of opening fire at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday, claims he needs to retain the services of seven lawyers to mount his defence.
“I’ll need seven lawyers to represent me,” he said while walking out of the Kota Bharu magistrates’ court in Kelantan today.
Dressed in a purple prison uniform, he was brought to court under heavy police escort this morning to obtain a seven-day remand order, which was granted by the magistrate.
His remand order starts today until next Monday, as the case is being investigated under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for unlawful possession of a gun.
He was arrested in front of a private hospital by the Serious Crimes Investigations Department (D9) of the Kelantan police contingent at 3pm yesterday.
Hafizul is expected to be brought back to Kuala Lumpur today for further investigation and will arrive at the Air Operation Force Base in Subang this afternoon.
Earlier, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the police had recorded statements from 11 witnesses, including victims injured by gunfire and firecrackers, as well as security guards and doctors, to assist in the investigation of the shooting.
He said that several more witnesses, including the suspect’s family members and others, will be called in for questioning.
Hussein previously said the shooting occurred at around 1.30am in the arrival hall.
Hafizul fired two shots, one of which hit the victim, a personal bodyguard. The bodyguard is reported to be in stable condition at the hospital.
Follow-up investigations showed that he had allegedly intended to shoot his wife, who was waiting for the arrival of an umrah group. – April 16, 2024