KUCHING: A Gawai eve celebration at Kampung Plaman Dunuk, along the Padawan/Tebedu Link Road, ended in tragedy after a misunderstanding led to a man being slashed to death.
Padawan district police chief Supt Choo Yin Kok said the incident occured around midnight today when two men began quarreling with each other over an undisclosed issue.
“Both men were celebrating the countdown to Gawai when the suspect, a 53-year-old labourer, showed up in front of the victim’s house in an intoxicated state and allegedly slashed the victim with a machete on the right side of his neck,” said Choo.
The deceased, he added, was identified as Sasok Bayur, a 53-year-old contract worker.
Medical personnel from Sentosa Hospital rushed to the scene upon being notified of the incident and arrived to find the victim lying in a pool of blood.
However, there was nothing they could do except pronounce Sasok dead at the scene.
His body has been sent to the Sarawak General Hospital for a post mortem, with police classifying the case as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Choo further revealed that a manhunt is currently underway for the suspect, who fled the village immediately after the incident.
Those with information on his whereabouts are urged to contact Inspector Mansur Rahman at 013-8100002 or the nearest police station.