KOTA KINABALU: Labuan police are investigating an alleged road rage incident where a woman was slapped over a traffic dispute.
A woman claimed on social media that she had been assaulted during a heated roadside exchange on March 21 on Jalan Tun Mustapha.
Labuan OCPD Supt Mohd Hamizi Halim said the woman, 28, lodged a police report on March 22, claiming that she was forced to brake abruptly due to a male suspect's reckless driving.
"A quarrel broke out and the man allegedly slapped the woman on her left cheek," he said in a statement on Saturday (March 22).
Both parties went to the Labuan police station but the woman later expressed dissatisfaction over the manner her complaint was handled, claiming she was not informed of any follow-up action.
After fresh reports were lodged by both parties, police opened two investigation papers — one under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt and another under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving.
If convicted, the suspect faces up to two years' jail, a fine, or both for the assault charge, and up to five years' jail and a RM15,000 fine for the traffic offence.
Supt Hamizi said an internal probe is also being carried out under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 over the handling of the woman's initial complaint.
Police are urging witnesses to the incident to come forward and contact ASP Ruslan Tarai at 019-300 0011 or 08-741 2222.
According to a Facebook user who claimed to be the victim, she was driving with her two children in the car when the suspect cut in front of her at high speed, forcing her to brake suddenly.
She said she confronted the man during the traffic jam and claimed he slapped her during the argument.
She also appealed for witnesses or those with dashcam footage to come forward to assist the police investigation.
