Police nab four wildlife personnel over volunteer's death

KUALA TERENGGANU: Four rangers from the Besut Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) were arrested by police today to assist in investigations into the death of a Perhilitan volunteer from a shotgun blast yesterday.
Setiu District Police chief, DSP Zulkifli Mat Deris said the five men, including the victim, Kamarul Zaman Mat Ali, 58, went in a Hilux vehicle armed with a loaded Baretta Auto shotgun to track a wild elephant at Kampung Pelong, Setiu district at 10am.
It is understood that they put the firearm in an upright position in the vehicle shortly after shooting a wild boar they came across along the way.
"However, at about 11.55pm, the gun went off unexpectedly when the vehicle was moving and hit the victim who was standing in the back section of the vehicle.
"The shotgun pellets hit him in the chest and arm. However, the rangers near him were not hit," he told Bernama when contacted here today.
He said the victim was then taken to Setiu Hospital for treatment but confirmed dead on the way.
The rangers aged 30 to 40 years were detained under Section 304 (a) of the Penal Code for causing death. — Bernama