DEBTS and drugs are the motives behind the murder of a man at a petrol station in Johor Baru recently, police said today, dispelling rumours that the case was linked to a gang war.

“This is an isolated case involving the individual and debts from drug trafficking,” said Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd, director of criminal investigations from the federal Bukit Aman police headquarters.

He confirmed that the victim in the murder case was not a gang leader.

“That is what we have managed to confirm after we made the initial arrests in Penang. As a result of the arrests (and investigations), this is the reason,” Wan Ahmad said at a press conference at the Johor police headquarters today.

Last Sunday, 44-year-old Tan Aik Chai died at a petrol station in Taman Pelangi, Johor Baru, after he was stabbed and repeatedly run over by a car with four men in it.

The victim had stopped at the petrol station with his Vietnamese wife, according to reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had earlier said the murder could be linked to a war between two feuding gangs in the state.

However, Wan Ahmad said investigations have not revealed any evidence of a gang war, and urged the public to stop speculating about the case.

He said Tan’s 32-year-old widow remains the main witness to the case, adding that the vehicle used in the murder has yet to be found.

“Statements have been taken from eight people, including the suspects and witnesses at the scene of the crime.”

Wan Ahmad told reporters that police have also recently detained a 22-year-old man in relation to the crime, bringing to 14 the total number of people nabbed to assist in investigations in the case.

The suspects are aged between 16 and 26. 

Wan Ahmad also extended his appreciation to Singapore police, who worked closely with Bukit Aman to track and arrest seven of the suspects who were in the republic.

He said he was confident that the case will be solved soon.

“I have instructed three teams from Bukit Aman to assist the Johor police.” – December 22, 2017.