SIBU – A 49-year-old woman was left paralysed after she was allegedly beaten up by her younger brother with a broomstick during a quarrel at their home at Sg Antu here on January 22, said Sibu police chief Stanley Jonathan Ringgit today.
He said the victim, Tiong Mee Kiong, sustained a spinal cord injury due to dislocated C5-C6 vertebrae, which left her paralysed from the chest down. Although she is scheduled to undergo surgery tomorrow, her chances at a full recovery are slim.
“The siblings have not been on good terms for a long time and have always argued, but never to the extent of physical violence,” Stanley said in a statement.
He said in the 3.30pm incident, the 44-year-old suspect was asking the victim for some cash, to which she refused. As the suspect continued to insist for the cash, the victim lost her temper and took a broomstick and started beating the suspect.
“The suspect retaliated by seizing the stick from the victim before beating her up repeatedly on her head, body and her back, causing her to fall on the floor,” he said.
Stanley said the suspect continued to beat her up and only fled the house after their 71-year-old mother screamed at him to stop.
The victim’s mother later called for an ambulance to take her to the hospital for treatment.
“Initially, the parents did not want to lodge a police report, but after being persuaded by the victim, the mother agreed to do so yesterday,” he said.
The suspect was arrested about 2.10pm yesterday and is being remanded for seven days starting today to enable investigations to be carried out under Section 326A of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing injuries.
He added that the case will be referred to the protection officer from the state Welfare Department to obtain an interim protection order for the victim. – Bernama, February 2, 2021
