Serial rapist strikes twice - in just 48 hours

MIRI: Within 48 hours of trying to rape a teacher in her own home, a serial rapist struck again – attacking and raping a Form Two student.

Police have launched a manhunt for the man who struck victims while they were at home. He would break into their homes wearing a crash helmet.

They said that in the two brazen attacks on Monday and yesterday, the youth brazenly barged into the houses during daylight to sexually assault his victims.

Miri Police Chief Asst Comm Gan Tian Kee said the 14-year-old student was raped at about 7am yesterday, while the assault on the teacher occurred on Monday afternoon.

Both cases occurred at the same Bandar Baru Permyjaya residential area in the Kuala Baram district, some 20km north of this city.

“The student woke up from her sleep and when she went to the kitchen, found a man wearing a helmet and a mask holding a parang,” said ACP Gan.

“He threatened the victim and forced her onto a sofa in the living room,” he said.

“The victim pleaded with the man, asking him to take her belongings and money, but to leave her alone,” said ACP Gan. “However, the man got angry and punched her in the stomach and face before slapping her.

“He took out what looked like a scissors and stabbed her thigh. He then forced her onto a bed and raped her before escaping through the back door,” said ACP Gan.

ACP Gan said, earlier on Monday, at about 4pm, the same man assaulted a teacher and tried to rape her.

He said the 23-year-old woman was in her house with her mother when the man, wearing a helmet, barged into her living room through the front door wielding a parang.

He demanded that she and her mother hand over all their jewellery and money.

He robbed the teacher and her mother of jewels, handphones and cash RM 5,500.

“The man then forced the teacher onto a sofa and ripped her clothes off and tried to rape her, but the teacher screamed,” said ACP Gan.

“Her screams alerted the neighbours and the attacker bolted,” he added.

ACP Gan said police were investigating the possibility that the attacker might have been involved in other sexual assaults.

He said they were looking for Aspin Amut, an Iban youth whose last known address was at the low-cost flats in the same residential area.

He urged the public to alert the nearest police station if they came across the man.