Man on provisional release nabbed over death of fellow parolee in Keningau

KENINGAU: A man on conditional parole from prison died after he was allegedly hit with a hard object by his carwash workmate, who is also on provisional release.

Keningau OCPD Supt Yampil Anak Garai said the 52-year-old victim died at the hospital in Sabah's interior Keningau district after he lost consciousness while being rushed to treatment by the 30-year-old suspect on Sunday (Dec 24).

He said that the man was given initial treatment but passed away at 11.08am on Sunday and added that the victim later tested positive for Covid-19.

Supt Yampil then added that the suspect had claimed that the victim fell and hit his head.

He said on Wednesday (Dec 27) that the police initially classified the case as a sudden death report but reclassified it as murder after a post-mortem and further investigation.

Police now believe that the story about the victim sustaining his injuries in a fall was made up by the suspect to cover up a fight between the two.

"A post-mortem found a bruise on the back of the victim's head from as yet undetermined causes.

"Scan results found cracks in the skull that may have caused internal bleeding," he said, adding that police subsequently arrested the suspect for questioning.

"We have seized a spade believed to have been used by the suspect during the incident," he said.

Supt Yampil said it was believed that the suspect was unhappy with the victim who was supposedly lazy, and the two often argued.

Both were on licensed parole under the supervision of the Interior Parole Office in Keningau.

They worked at the same car wash and stayed in quarters provided by their employer.

Supt Yampil said the suspect was serving time for a drug case.