Woman detained over fatal acid attack

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Police investigating at the scene of the acid attack on the girl.

KOTA KINABALU: A local woman has been detained to assist in police investigation into the case of a 19-year-old girl who died after acid was splashed onto her face at Towering Industry in Penampang.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the 24-year-old woman was arrested around 4pm in Penampang on Saturday.

“Investigation is being carried out and the police believe that one of the motives could be jealousy,” he said after a ceremony to pin the ‘Commandant Medal’ to Police Volunteer Reserve officer Superintendent Paul Lajumin by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Khalid Abu Bakar here yesterday.

Hamza added the arrested woman was unemployed and he believed the arrest would help the police investigation into the case.

The 19-year-old victim, Memey Kandusan, suffered severe burns on her face and abdomen and died around 11.20am at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after the acid was thrown at her face at 5.30am.

In a separate case, two local male suspects have been arrested for assaulting a tyre shop supervisor in Penampang on April 12.

Hamza said with the arrest of the two suspects, police believed the case had been solved.

“The suspects were arrested in Penampang and Kota Kinabalu. Both suspects will be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.”

The 56-year-old Sarawakian, Hei Kok Meng, suffered severe head injuries after being assaulted on April 12 and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital at around 11.40pm the next day.