BINTULU: The sudden death of a man along the pedestrian area in front of Tamu Bintulu last Sunday was not likely caused by the explosion of his electronic cigarette as reported earlier.
Bintulu police chief Supt Abdul Razak Mohammad said the cause of death has not been confirmed yet pending autopsy that was scheduled for last night.
“The case is still under investigation,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Earlier on Sunday morning, the victim who is a van driver only known as Lau, 53, and a friend were heading for a coffee break as Lau was waiting for passengers for his chartered van.
However while walking to the coffee shop Lau suddenly collapsed and at the same time the sound of small explosion was heard.
The friend, who was shocked, said he tried to help Lau and discovered a hole with burnt marks on Lau’s chest.
He said Lau did not die instantly as his eyes were wide open when his name was called out.
Members of the public at the market offered help by calling up an ambulance from Bintulu Hospital, as well as police who rushed to the scene. When paramedics arrived, they pronounced Lau dead.
According to Supt Razak, police also found a miniature firearm called ‘ballpen-gun’ at the scene and a small plastic box that contained tiny bullets in his pocket.
He said a pathologist from Kuala Lumpur as well as ballistic and chemistry experts had been called by the police to probe the case after finding that it could involve firearms.
Currently, the police classified the case as sudden death.