TAWAU: Three separate incidents have been reported recently in Tawau: an outrage of modesty, a man going on a rampage and confining his family, and a drunk driving operation.
A 20-year-old female cashier was molested by an unknown man at a supermarket about 12.45 pm on April 25. The suspect pretended to ask for product locations, then pulled and hugged her, claiming she was his niece, before touching several parts of her body.
Police arrested a 57-year-old local man at a worker’s house on Jalan Tanjung Batu Laut, seizing clothing believed worn during the incident. The suspect had no prior record and is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
In Kalabakan, a 39‑year‑old local man was arrested after going on a rampage, locking his wife and three children inside their home for seven hours, and threatening to kill them. The suspect, believed to be under drug influence, threw a sickle at those trying to calm the situation.
A police team took nearly seven hours to negotiate before storming the house, using a Taser to subdue the man. Confiscated weapons included machetes, a sickle, and iron pipes.
The suspect has a prior record under Section 326 of the Penal Code. He is being investigated under Sections 342 and 506 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act.
Meanwhile, a 39‑year‑old female clerk was arrested during a drunk driving operation on April 25 from 11.00 pm to 1.30 am. A breathalyser test using an EBA II device recorded a reading exceeding the permitted limit.
During the same operation, police inspected 48 vehicles and screened 50 individuals, issuing six summonses.
In a separate Op Mentor targeting illegal racing in Kubota, a 19‑year‑old local teenager was arrested for riding a motorcycle without a licence, with expired road tax and insurance. Three motorcycles were seized.
Police reiterated that enforcement against drunk driving and other traffic violations will continue, urging the public to never drive after drinking and to report any criminal incidents immediately. – James Leong
The suspect and the weapons seized by police after the seven-hour stand-off in Kalabakan, Tawau.
