TAWAU: An 38-year-old Indonesian labourer suspected of being involved in the murder of a worker in Ladang Seri Jaya, Imbak about 150km from here on June 12, surrendered himself to the police on Wednesday.
Tawau assistant police chief Superintendent Keong Ho Eng said the suspect, who was a labourer at the plantation, surrendered himself to his supervisor
and later to the police. The suspect has been remanded for one week from June 16 to 23.
Keong said initial investigations showed the suspect, who had been working at the estate for three months, surrendered because he did not know the way out of the estate and feared retribution from the family and friends of the victim.
“With the suspect turning himself in, we consider the murder case closed,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Keong said the victim, aged 40, was reported to have gone to the workers at the estate with his colleague to watch television at 8pm on June 12.
While watching, an argument broke out between the victim and the suspect and two of the suspect’s friends.
As the victim, who had worked at estate for six years, was leaving at 10pm, the suspect suddenly stabbed him on the left and right of the chest and left shoulder in the presence of the other workers.The victim was forced to jump and hid underneath the quarters, while the others ran away. The suspect also fled after the incident.An hour later, dog barks under the quarters led to the discovery of the victim who
was already dead, said Keong. The police arrived at the crime scene at 1.50pm and the victim was taken to the Tawau Hospital.Keong said the police also seized the alleged murder weapon at the crime scene.Police are investigating the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code.