JOHOR BARU, Malaysia: An armed man who robbed three chefs at a restaurant and a house was shot dead by police in Bandar Seri Alam early Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Lim Chee Hiong, 31, a divorced father of one, from Taman Megah Ria, Masai.

Earlier, Lim, who was armed with a knife, attempted to again attack a 49-year-old female chef whom he had stabbed in the hand and leg at the double-storey house, despite a police warning to surrender.

At the time, the assailant had also overpowered a 23-year-old male chef in the house and threatened him with bodily harm while the victim's 29-year-old girlfriend watched helplessly.

When Lim continued to ignore police warnings, a police sergeant fired several shots in his direction, killing him on the spot at the house in Jalan Bayu 29 at 4.45am.

Initial police investigations revealed that Lim had two previous convictions for causing grievous harm with a weapon.

"The police were forced to open fire when the man tried to attack the 49-year-old injured chef who was lying in bed at her bedroom," said Johor police deputy chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah.

He said that prior to the drama at the house, Lim had robbed the couple of RM50 outside their Today's Restaurant, about 200 metres from the house.

Dissatisfied with the loot, he forced them to take him to the house where he confronted the other chef.

When the older chef told him that she did not have money or valuabes, Lim ransacked her bedroom and found RM900 in jewellery and cash comprising various foreign currencies.

The robber became aggressive on finding out that the woman had lied to him. He then slashed her hand and sole with the knife.

At that point, the police who were alerted of the commotion, arrived at the scene.

The injured woman was warded at the Sultan Ismail Hospital where her condition is reported to be stable.

Lim's body was sent to the hospital mortuary for a post mortem. - Bernama