KENINGAU: An estranged husband was arrested by police after he threatened to kill his eldest son when his wife refused to give him money.
The incident happened at Kampung Feri, Jalan Minawo in Keningau on Wednesday, when the 26-year-old suspect dragged his four-year-old son to the roadside and threatened to throw the boy into oncoming traffic.
The suspect also strangled the eldest boy before he was confronted and detained by villagers who handed him to the police.
“The boy was strangled for almost a minute,” said acting Keningau police chief Assistant Superintendent Lee Nyuk Kim.
The boy suffered bruises on his neck and was taken to a hospital for treatment, said Lee.
According to police investigation, the incident happened when the suspect, who is from Kampung Baginda, went to see his wife who was temporarily staying at a relative’s place at Kampung Feri with two of their sons, aged four and one.
It is learned that the couple were in the midst of a divorce.
Police investigation also revealed that the suspect was jobless while his wife was said to be the breadwinner of the family.
“The suspect came and asked for money but when the wife ignored him, he got angry and dragged the eldest boy some 50 meters to the main road.
“The suspect also threatened to throw his son into oncoming vehicles before he tried to strangle the boy for about a minute.
Villagers who witnessed the incident apprehended him, said Lee.
The suspect is currently being remanded for investigation under Section 323 of the Penal Code and Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.