TAWAU: Police in Tawau arrested several individuals in a series of separate incidents across the district, ranging from criminal intimidation to theft and drug possession.
In the first case, police apprehended a 32-year-old man suspected of involvement in a criminal intimidation case at a physiotherapy centre along Jalan Kabota. The arrest came after a 20-year-old female complainant, who worked alongside the suspect, reported receiving threats from him following a workplace dispute.
“Acting on information, a team of officers and personnel from the District Criminal Investigation Division arrested the suspect by the roadside at Taman Perindustrian Leeka on Sept 7,” said Acting OCPD Superintendent Wilynton Enchana Watt.
“The case is being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code. Police will conduct further questioning of the suspect to complete the investigation for further action,” he added.
In a separate incident, a man’s attempt to steal 30 bunches of oil palm fruit at a plantation along Mile 24, Jalan Apas Balung, was thwarted after he was detained by the plantation supervisor and his companion last Saturday.
The incident occurred about 11.31 pm when the 42-year-old supervisor observed two men on a motorcycle entering the plantation area carrying sickles, flashlights, and parangs.
“The supervisor and his companion conducted surveillance before apprehending one of the men who was believed to be harvesting oil palm fruit, while his accomplice managed to escape,” Wilynton said.
The foreigner, in his 30s, was believed to have already harvested and collected 30 bunches of oil palm fruit in an open area, with estimated losses of about RM400. The suspect admitted to entering the plantation with his escaped accomplice with the intention of stealing the oil palm fruit.
The supervisor brought the suspect to the Sri Indah Police Station at 12.30 am for further action. Upon inspection, authorities found that the suspect did not possess valid travel documents to remain in the country.
The suspect is being held for investigation under Section 379 of the Penal Code and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. Police are conducting further investigation by recording statements from the suspect, complainant, and relevant witnesses, while also attempting to trace the accomplice who escaped.
In another case, police arrested a man suspected of pointing a machete at his wife in an incident at the Check Point area, Kilometer 52, last Friday.
The suspect, a local in his 40s, was apprehended around 2.00 am Sept 7 after police tracked him down in Tawau town area.
The victim, a foreigner in her 30s, was traveling with the suspect from Tawau to Semporna when the suspect stopped their Perodua Axia vehicle at the incident location.
“The suspect exited the vehicle, went to the rear, retrieved a short parang, and pointed it at the victim who was inside the car while uttering threatening words,” Wilynton said.
“The victim and suspect then struggled over the parang before the victim filed a police report for further action. Investigations revealed that the incident was believed to stem from the victim’s desire to divorce the suspect. Police seized the Perodua Axia vehicle along with its keys,” he added.
The suspect has been detained, and the case is being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code. Police emphasised they would take firm action against any individual committing criminal threats and ensure victim safety remains a priority.
In a series of separate operations on Sept 5, police arrested three men and seized 0.66 grams of syabu (crystal methamphetamine) and 11.45 grams/ml of vape liquid suspected to contain drugs around the district.
Wilynton stated that all three suspects were arrested by the District Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division during “Ops Tapis” operations.
In the first arrest at approximately 6.30 pm in Kampung Tanjung Batu Keramat, police detained a 26-year-old local man acting suspiciously before the suspect surrendered a transparent plastic packet containing clear crystals suspected to be syabu weighing 0.17 grams. Preliminary screening tests on the suspect returned positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine.
In the second arrest at around 10.00 pm in the Mile 3 Industrial Area, police detained a 34-year-old local man acting suspiciously before the suspect surrendered a transparent plastic packet containing clear crystals suspected to be syabu weighing 0.49 grams. The suspect also tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine.
In the third arrest about 10.50 pm in Kampung Titingan, police detained another 20-year-old local man before the suspect surrendered a small black bottle containing liquid suspected to be drugs weighing 11.45 grams/ml, valued around RM120.
“All three suspects have been detained, and the case is being investigated under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, while two suspects are also being investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the same act,” Wilynton said. – James Leong
Superintendent Wilynton Enchana Watt.
