KOTA KINABALU: A 24-year-old local woman has alleged that she was slapped and strangled before being raped by a stranger at a hotel at Jalan Bundusan, Penampang here on January 27.
Acting Penampang police chief DSP Azmir Abdul Razak, who confirmed the case, said that police had arrested a 28-year-old suspect at a club in Penampang Baru last Friday for investigation.
According to Azmir, the victim had gone for a drink with a male friend at a pub in Bundusan at 1am on January 27. About 3am, her friend went home, leaving her alone at the pub. The victim then contacted another male friend to come to the pub. After they were done drinking, the victim asked her friend to drive her back.
“As soon as she got into the car, she became unconscious from consuming too much alcohol,” Azmir said.
When she regained consciousness after a while, the victim realized that she was on a bed and her friend had told her that he had to leave because of other matters.
Around 4am, the victim was suddenly awakened from her sleep and reportedly shocked to see a man on top of her. The suspect reportedly slapped and strangled the victim before proceeding to rape her.
After the incident, she contacted her friend who drove her to the hotel and told him what happened. The victim then lodged a police report about 10am on the same day.
Azmir said the victim did not know the suspect but that she could recognize him.
“The victim said she did not know the suspected rapist before this but could recognize him as he was wearing a red corporate t-shirt.
At 4pm last Friday, a team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Penampang district police headquarters arrested the suspect at a club in Penampang Baru. The police also seized a chain of keys and a red tee shirt from the man.
Azmir said the case would be investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code for rape.