BAZAAR visits are usually a pleasant affair, with crowds gathering to browse stalls and grab a bite.
But things took a violent turn at one such bazaar in Tawau, where a chaotic scene was caught on video and spread rapidly on WhatsApp.
Did a brawl really erupt at a Ramadan bazaar in Tawau?
Verdict:
TRUE
A fight broke out at the Ramadan bazaar near Sabindo Plaza in Tawau on Friday (March 6), causing public alarm after a video of the incident went viral on WhatsApp.
The roughly 20-second clip showed a group of men fighting, believed to be using objects resembling weapons, and spread widely enough to prompt police action.
Tawau district police chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said in a statement on Saturday (March 7) that acting on the information and the viral video, a team from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Tawau District Police Headquarters conducted an operation and successfully detained five men at around 9pm near Jalan Taman Kuhara Jaya, Tawau.
"In that arrest, police also seized a modified motorcycle chain believed to have been used during the brawl," he said.
He said preliminary investigations found the fight was believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding between two groups of men before it escalated into a brawl that disrupted public order at the bazaar.
He said police subsequently detained three more men at around 9.30pm in front of a premises in Kampung Batu 2, Jalan Apas, who were also believed to have been involved in the incident.
Eight men in total were arrested, comprising Malaysian nationals and one foreign national, aged between 17 and 34.
A preliminary check found none of the suspects had prior criminal records.
The case is being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with dangerous weapons or objects.
"Police take seriously any incident of fighting that can disrupt public order, especially in areas with large crowds.
"The public is advised not to be involved in any fights or provocation as firm action will be taken against anyone who breaks the law," he said.
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