KOTA KINABALU: A palm oil estate worker was killed for asking the suspect about the money given to buy groceries in Papar, near here, on Thursday (30 January).
Initial investigations reveal that the victim, a 37-year-old Filipino, visited his Indonesian colleague's quarters to inquire about the RM20 that his wife had given him to purchase bread and fish.
Papar OCPD Supt Kamaruddin Ambo Sakka said that, according to the victim’s wife, the 26-year-old Indonesian colleague did not get the goods as the sundry shops were closed and did not return their money.
The victim’s wife also said that the same colleague had previously borrowed RM30 from the victim and had not returned it.
When asked for the money repeatedly, the suspect got mad, went into his house, came out with a knife and allegedly stabbed the Filipino multiple times, said Supt Kamaruddin.
He said the police received a call from the estate owner about the fight and was told that someone was believed to have been stabbed.
“When our men arrived, they found the deceased victim lying in a pool of blood,” he said in a statement.
Supt Kamaruddin said further investigations found that the victim had tried grabbing a weapon to defend himself during the attack but collapsed and fell unconscious.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.
He said following the incident, a manhunt was mounted for the suspect, and he was nabbed at Kampung Ulu Lumagar, Bongawan, at around noon on Friday (Jan 31).
Also arrested were two men and two women, comprising Indonesians and Filipinos aged between 20 and 60, to assist with the investigations, said Supt Kamaruddin, adding that a knife believed to be the weapon used during the incident was also seized.
The case is being investigated for murder. Those with information on the incident can contact investigating officer Insp Desmond Tanggapan at 019-4883322 or the police at 088-912222, he said.
