Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Riding a motorcycle, fifth former Mustaqim Minsawi tried to chase down two snatch thieves, also on a motorcycle, yesterday.

What the 17-year-old did not know was that two accomplices were on another motorcycle, following close behind.

After 100m, the accomplices kicked Mustaqim's motorcycle, causing him to fall and knock his head on the road divider.

Mustaqim died at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) soon after being taken there. He had, unfortunately, not been able to put on his crash helmet at the time.

Mustaqim had been hanging out in Dataran Merdeka with several friends after finishing his shift at his part-time job at the McDonald's in Bangsar about 5.40am when the group heard a scream and a shout for help.

Mohd Ridzuan Mohd Hussain, 19, who was part of the group, said the scream and shout came from a couple who were near City Hall's Panggung Bandaraya.

"They were shouting at two snatch thieves on a Yamaha Lagenda motorcycle who were speeding off towards Dayabumi," he said at the KLH mortuary.

Ridzuan said Mustaqim, a student of SMK La Salle, Brickfields, immediately started his motorcycle and gave chase. Ridzuan and four others followed shortly after.

"Unknown to us, the snatch thieves had two accomplices riding a Yamaha 135LC who saw the incident and chased after Mustaqim."

Ridzuan said he and his friends saw the accomplices kicking Mustaqim's motorcycle.

"Mustaqim was not wearing his helmet as he had been trying to get a clear shot to throw it at the thieves in front of him. He was at that time trying to put it on as they were entering the main road.

"So when they kicked him off his motorcycle, he lost control and landed on his head on the road divider."

He said part of the group chased after the four snatch thieves but were unsuccessful. Others stopped a passing car to send Mustaqim to KLH.

Ridzuan lodged a report on the incident at noon at the KLH police station.

He said the couple who were the victims of the snatch thieves had told him the culprits had approached them and identified themselves as policemen.

"As the couple were getting their MyKads out, one of the the men snatched the woman's bag and sped off on their motorcycle," said Ridzuan.

Mustaqim's eldest sister Saleha, 28, described her brother as a kind person who always tried to help people.

"I am not surprised by his reaction. It was logical for him to help the couple in distress by trying to stop the thieves," she said, adding that Mustaqim was the fourth of five siblings.

"Mustaqim was an independent person who started working part-time when he was in Form Three for his expenses. Even the Yamaha 125 motorcycle he was riding was bought with his own money."

She said Mustaqim was not the brightest student in class but he was adamant that he finished his studies.

"All the part-time work he had been doing was for him to be able to buy a second-hand car when he finished schooling."