Man slashes housemate to death in argument over mobile phone

BUTTERWORTH (Bernama): A man died in hospital after he was slashed in a fight with his housemate, apparently following the loss of a mobile phone belonging to their friend in an incident at a house in Jalan Pak Abu, Kampung Telaga Air here on Sunday (Oct 24) night.

North Seberang Perai OCPD Asst Comm Noorzainy Mohd Noor said police received a call at 7.35pm, informing them that a 30-year-old man had suffered serious injuries as a result of being slashed during a fight.

"Based on the testimony of the witness who is the suspect's stepbrother, he was at his house and heard his stepbrother (suspect) who is a tenant along with the deceased, and some other friends in the house next door quarrelling at 7.30pm.

"In the incident, he did not see the quarrel until he witnessed the deceased being taken to the hut (in front of the house) by two other friends before (they) called for an ambulance to take the victim to the hospital due to severe injuries from the hacking," he said when contacted on Monday (Oct 25).

He said the victim was brought to Seberang Jaya Hospital (HSJ) and the man was confirmed dead at 9.17pm while receiving treatment for severe injuries.

ACP Noorzainy said following the incident, police arrested a 34-year-old man in the Mak Mandin area at 9am on Monday to assist in the investigation of the case, adding that the suspect admitted that he had an argument with the victim before a fight ensued.

He said tests found that the victim had tested positive for drugs and he also had 15 previous offences related to crime and drugs while the suspect has 22 previous criminal offences and has been remanded for seven days.- Bernama