Newly wed man arrested for beating up his seventh wife

LAHAD DATU: Police arrested a jobless man for beating up his wife and child with a barbell during a heated argument at their house in Kg Tabanak here.

The 36-year-old man, married for the seventh time in February, was arrested at around 10.45pm on Wednesday (April 17), three days after the assault happened.

Lahad Datu police chief Asst Comm Nasri Mansor said the suspect attacked his wife at about 6pm on Sunday (April 14) for running away from home earlier.

According to ACP Mansor, the 26-year-old victim fled home because she could no longer stand her husband's abusive behaviour.

"In a fit of rage, the suspect punched her head and kicked her face until her mouth bled.

"He started hitting her with a barbell and threw weights at her. He did the same thing to his own child, the victim's stepchild.

"The victims were bruised and swollen from the assault," he added.

ACP Nasri said the suspect lost his temper again at approximately 7pm on Wednesday and spewed vulgarities at his wife and child.

"Both mother and stepchild ran away from home out of fear for their safety. They lodged a report at the Lahad Datu police station.

"A team from the Criminal Investigation Department arrested the suspect at around 10.45pm and seized the weapons," he explained.

ACP Nasri said the victim and suspect had just tied the knot in February this year. It was her second marriage and his seventh.

"The victim was a housewife, while the suspect was unemployed.

"He has hit her before, but she did not report it until now," he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.