MASKED ROBBERS THREATEN TO SET FAMILY ON FIRE

By Ahmad Fairuz Othman

TANGKAK: A family of four spent a terrifying hour with five masked armed men who assaulted and tied them up before threatening to set them ablaze. They ransacked the house before escaping with RM2,000 and two mobile phones in Kampung Kenanga, Kundang Ulu here, yesterday.

The five, who brandished knives and a pair of scissors, broke into the home of Abdullah Omar, 55, about 1.30am.

They had gained entry by cutting the metal grille in the kitchen window.

At that time, Abdullah was sleeping in the master bedroom with his wife, Sapinah Surpadi, 55.

The couple's eldest son, Mohd Nazri, 24, had fallen asleep in front of the television in the living room while their other son, Mohd Shukri, 22, was sleeping in his room.

The family was awakened when the robbers switched on all the lights. They then tied up the family.

Abdullah said the robbers got annoyed when they could not find any cash in the house.

"They beat me and my wife. I suffered a cut on my back while my wife was bruised on her left cheek."

Abdullah said the robbers placed clothes around his family members, soaked them in petrol and threatened to set them on fire.

"They held up a cigarette lighter and threatened to burn my family alive."

Despite the family's pleas, the robbers continued to threaten Abdullah while kicking him.

They also threatened to stab Sapinah in her abdomen.

After more than an hour ransacking the house, the five men found RM2,000 which was hidden in the kitchen and took two mobile phones.

"When they found the money, they covered us with a few bedsheets and poured petrol over us.

"Then everything went quiet and we freed ourselves."

Abdullah said it was the second robbery at their home.

In 2005, he suffered losses of RM25,000 when robbers took his cash, his wife's jewellery and a car.

He said he would no longer keep cash in his house.

Police have mounted a manhunt for the suspects.

SOURCE: NEW STRAITS TIMES, 23 NOVEMBER 2008