The family of noodle seller Ho Chei Hang, who was shot four times by the police near their family home in Kepong last Tuesday, has accused the force of being “trigger-happy”.

“This is abuse of power and trigger-happy (behaviour),” said lawyer Keppy Wong (right), who spoke on the family’s behalf at his office in Pandan Indah, Ampang today.

He also claimed that there was no warning before Ho, 32, was shot by plainclothes police officers who did not identify themselves on Nov 16. Furthermore, the police did not attempt to disable the car he was driving during the incident.

“He was on his way home and stopped at a field to meet a friend. As he was driving away, he saw two guys trying to stop his car and calling to him. When he did not stop, they shot him (in the back),” Wong said.

He said he believes that the police action is unjustified as no weapons or contraband were found in the car, while Ho does not have a police record.

“There was no weapon in the car, they only found 42-45 sleeping pills in the car. Sleeping pills are not an item under the Dangerous Drugs Act,” said the lawyer.

Ho’s mother, Teoh Yak Kiow, who was at the press conference, said he was on his way home from the pharmacy after getting her the medication.

He has been admitted to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital where he is being treated for the bullet wounds he sustained in the incident.

“Doctors have removed three of the bullets, but one is still inside him,” said Wong who has visited Ho.

Ho’s wife, Tan Chiew Yong, 29, (right) said doctors cannot remove the final bullet because of complications.

“He is too weak and the bullet is lodged deep in the bone,” said the stricken wife, speaking through the lawyer.

At this, the victim’s father, Ho Ah Beng, broke into tears prompting Tan to also shed tears.

Attempted murder?

Wong disclosed that Ho is being investigated by police for ‘attempting to murder’ the police officers who shot at him.

“He is the one who should be complaining that he was nearly killed, not the police who shot him.”

Wong said the investigating officer from Sentul district police headquarters has described Ho as “a dangerous man”.

“A remand order was issued at the same time he was sent to the hospital, and he has been handcuffed since Day One in the hospital,” the lawyer claimed.

Wong said that police treatment of Ho is an infringement of his human rights, and has therefore advised the family to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Ho’s brother, Siew Eng, lodged a police report last Wednesday at the Kepong police station.

‘Drug found’

The police, however, maintained that they were justified in their shooting of Ho, calling it a case of attempted murder and drug possession.

“We cannot take things for granted when we believe there is a drug-related offence, as the suspects may have a weapon,” Sentul OCPD Zakaria Pagan told the media, claiming that the drug Ketamine was found in Ho’s car.

He argued that the officers had to react as one of the cars that they tried to stop for checks had attempted to ram them.

Zakaria said the car, a white Nissan, managed to evade police.

The police had received a tip-off about vehicles driven by suspicious individuals in the vicinity and had tried to stop the vehicles for checks.

Contacted today, Zakaria confirmed the media reports.

The shooting follows several questionable police shootings, the most high profile of which is the case of minor Aminulrasyid Amzah who was shot dead in April after a car chase.

This led to a public demand for a review of police firearm procedures.