17-4-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Police revealed on Tuesday that the suspect involved in the shooting targeting his estranged wife at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) had attempted to flee the country, employing various tactics to evade detection.
Hafizul Harawi, aged 38, resorted to using identity cards belonging to others to register at a hotel and changed his car’s registration plate following the shooting incident, according to Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
The suspect was apprehended at a private hospital in Kota Bharu around 3 pm on Monday after a brief altercation. Mohd Shuhaily disclosed that Hafizul had attempted to escape to a neighbouring country, possessing his passport, Saudi riyals, and Thai baht at the time of his arrest. Malaysian authorities are investigating whether he had applied for a visa to leave the country.
“His travel history indicates frequent trips abroad, particularly to Saudi Arabia and Thailand, prior to his arrival in Malaysia. There was indeed an attempt by the suspect to flee through the country’s borders, and we are currently gathering additional information,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
The shooting occurred around 1:20 am on Sunday when Hafizul allegedly fired two shots towards his wife at KLIA’s Terminal 1 arrival hall. While one bullet struck a bodyguard in the abdomen, the other missed his wife. The injured bodyguard is reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators revealed that a week before the shooting, Hafizul returned from Saudi Arabia, transited through Bangkok, and re-entered Malaysia via Kelantan. After the incident, he drove to Kelantan, altering his vehicle’s registration plate to avoid detection, and checked into a hotel using another individual’s identity card.
Despite his attempts to evade authorities, intelligence efforts led to Hafizul’s arrest near a private hospital in Kota Bharu, where he had gone to collect a medical report.
Authorities seized a Glock 19 pistol, ammunition, a Honda Civic, and several mobile phones from the suspect. Mohd Shuhaily confirmed that Hafizul acted alone in planning the shooting, motivated by personal grievances amid divorce proceedings with his wife.
Following a mental health assessment indicating normalcy, Hafizul was remanded for an additional seven days to facilitate ongoing investigations.
The shooting prompted a nationwide manhunt and enhanced security measures at Malaysia’s borders and states. Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan announced plans for tighter security at KLIA in response to the incident.
