KOTA KINABALU: Police in Beaufort are hunting for a man who allegedly punched his wife in the mouth and threatened to shoot her and their son during an argument on Sunday (Jan 20) night.
Beaufort police chief DSP Azmir Abd Razak said the victim is a 37-year-old housewife, adding that the incident happened when she arrived home at Kg Gorowort Kuala Penyu, some 70km from here at about 9pm.
"The husband apparently started scolding her for no reason and they argued in front of their eight-year-old son," he said in a statement on Monday (Jan 21).
DSP Azmir added that the man - Jasli Paungin - was in a drunken state when he arrived home.
He said the man then allegedly took out his homemade gun and threatened to shoot the woman and their son.
The woman screamed for help from her neighbours, and the husband immediately brought the gun to his car.
DSP Azmir said he allegedly hid it there before heading back to punch the woman in her mouth.
"The woman and child managed to run to safety before a police report was lodged," DSP Azmir said.
He said that initial investigation found that the suspect had threatened twice to shoot his wife when he was drunk, but was a quiet and calm person when sober.
The couple have been married for 18 years and have six children together.
"We are hunting for the man who has gone into hiding following the incident," DSP Azmir said.
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