KOTA KINABALU: Police arrested two key suspects in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old college student outside a pub in Asia City here following a brawl.

The suspects, aged 23 and 26, were detained at a house in the Bukit Padang area of Luyang at about 9am Thursday after they fled the murder scene.  

Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm M. Chandra said that four people, who were working at the pub, were arrested to facilitate investigations.  

He said two injured victims, aged 18, were warded at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  

It was reported that a night out for eight youths turned tragic when one of them was stabbed to death outside a pub along Jalan Coastal.  

Yaacob Nasran was found dead with stab wounds to his neck and forehead, while two others were injured in the early Thursday incident.  

According to police, the brawl might have been triggered by the jealousy of an ex-husband of a waitress working at the pub.  

Initial investigations showed that as they were leaving the pub, the youths were caught in the middle of a fight between the suspect and his ex-wife.

According to ACP Chandra, the suspect and a relative suddenly started to charge at the youths.  

"He took out a parang and swung it at the youths, killing one of them on the spot," he said.