KOTA TINGGI: A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his five-year-old niece by throwing her into a river in Tanjung Sedili here.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Yusof Othman said police received a report about 9.30am on Monday (Sept 21) that a man had gone on a rampage outside his home in Kampung Padang and chased a 40-year-old man with a parang.
“Before the incident, the suspect was believed to have thrown his niece into the river, causing her death.
“The man that the suspect chased after was the girl’s father,” he said in a statement.
Supt Yusof said a team of policemen were dispatched to the location to arrest the 37-year-old suspect, where a struggle ensued.
“This resulted in one of the police personnel getting injured, but the suspect was successfully detained.
“The cause of the incident is still under investigation and the suspect is also believed to have mental health problems,” he said.
Supt Yusof said the girl’s body would be sent to Hospital Pasir Gudang for a post-mortem.
He added that a remand order for the suspect would be obtained on Tuesday (Sept 22) to assist in investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, as well as whipping of up to 12 strokes.
