SANDAKAN: Police have solved a murder case with the arrest of a foreigner on October 15.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said the 35-year-old suspect was detained at the Lahad Datu Hospital for alleged involvement in the murder of an estate worker who is also a foreigner at Gomantong Estate, Paris 2, Kinabatangan.
Ramli said that in the 8.45 am incident, the suspect went to the deceased’s house to ask him and his family to leave the worker’s house as the deceased had not been working for two months.
“However, the deceased ignored him and the suspect took a brick stone and threw it towards him.
“The deceased then became angry and took a knife and chased the suspect away from the worker’s housing area,” he said in a press conference at the Sandakan police station yesterday.
The suspect later came back with a machete and attacked the deceased.
During the scuffle, the deceased sustained injury on his left wrist while the suspect was stabbed twice with a knife.
The deceased managed to escape to the oil palm block but was found dead by his wife and children about one kilometer from the scene. The suspect, who was injured in the stomach and rib, was sent to the Lahad Datu Hospital for further treatment.
Meanwhile, in a separate murder case, police detained seven Filipino men following the discovery of a man’s body believed stabbed to death at Sinar Wanita Estate, Ranau.
Ramli said police had received a call from the estate authority about the murder around 9pm on October 15.
Upon reaching the scene, the victim who is also a Filipino, was found lying facedown with a stab wound on his back at the worker’s quarters.
“Seven suspects aged 19 to 52 years old were arrested around 12pm on October 16. Police also discovered a machete believed used in the incident.
“It was learned that all the suspects, including the victim, were having a drinking session and were drunk during the incident,” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.