Former CM’s nephew killed over salary

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Police inspecting the victim’s body at the crime scene.

Hamzah and his men showing the cleaver believed used to hack the victim.

LAHAD DATU: The nephew of former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee was killed in an attack by an enraged ex-worker over salary on his 37th birthday on Monday.

Darren Kong Thau Chin, a cook, succumbed to injuries after being slashed repeatedly in the head, neck and hands at a restaurant here.

Police solved the case within one hour after arresting a 38-year-old Filipino.

District police chief ACP Hamzah Ahmad said at a press conference yesterday that his department was informed of the murder at the restaurant in Jalan Singgahmata about 5.15pm and rushed to the scene.

The suspect, who had been working for Kong for about four years, had confronted him about a salary increase.

“There was heated argument and the suspect whipped out a cleaver and began attacking Darren with it,” Hamza said.

“We detained the suspect at 5.45pm and found a cleaver hidden under a coconut tree in the bushes behind the restaurant.

“Investigation also revealed that the incident was caused by the dissatisfaction of the suspect regarding the amount of salary received from the victim,” he added.

According to witnesses, the victim’s mother, Yong Tet Moi, threw a chair at the suspect in an attempt to thwart the attack. However, her efforts were in vain as Kong collapsed shortly after freeing himself from his attacker.

Hamzah said the victim’s body had been taken to Lahad Datu Hospital for post-mortem.

He added that the case would be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides the death penalty upon conviction.