A VIDEO capturing a gunshot during a chase at a water village in Kampung Titingan, Tawau, has since gone viral on social media.
The clip has sparked speculation online over what took place and when.
Does the viral Tawau video show a shootout?
Verdict:
FALSE
The viral video shows a warning shot fired during an arrest operation on Oct 9, not an exchange of fire or a new incident, Tawau OCPD Asst Comm Rosdi Mat Jusoh said in a statement on Tuesday night (Oct 13).
The incident took place at about 4pm at Kampung Titingan, a village built over the water.
According to ACP Rosdi, a team from the Tawau district police Criminal Investigation Department, together with the Tawau police station Strike Team and the Titingan area police post, was attempting to arrest a suspect.
The man was wanted over an armed robbery and the attempted rape of an 18-year-old foreign woman at about 3.50am that same day.
During the robbery, three men armed with machetes are believed to have made off with two mobile phones and RM434 in cash belonging to the victim, with total losses estimated at RM3,500.
As officers moved in, the suspect acted aggressively and tried to attack them with a metal bar before jumping into the sea, said ACP Rosdi.
He also struck and tried to drown a policeman during the chase, forcing police to fire a warning shot before he was arrested.
Two police officers were injured in the incident.
The suspect, a foreign man in his 30s, did not have valid identification documents.
A metal bar was also seized.
An initial urine screening found the suspect positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.
The case is being investigated under Sections 395, 397 and 354 of the Penal Code, while two other suspects are still being traced.
Members of the public with information are urged to contact Inspector Norhafizah Hussin at 012-527 9004 and to refrain from speculating about the viral video.
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