SANDAKAN – Police have arrested a foreigner for allegedly murdering two church members in St Maria Church, Ladang Pinang Kalumpang in Semporna on June 26.
The suspect had attacked the two Timorese victims, aged 52 and 57, with a machete at the church compound at around 4.30pm that Sunday.
The two church members succumbed to serious injuries on their arms, necks and heads on the same day.
It was believed that the public members at the scene had trapped the suspect in a compound near the estate’s health clinic while they waited outside the gate for the police to arrive, as recorded and shared by social media users.
The church is located inside the estate compound, and most of its members are the estate’s workers.
Semporna district police chief Superintendent Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah, said that the 29-year-old male suspect, later surrendered himself after being persuaded by police.
The officer did not disclose whether the suspect knew the victims before the attack, but it was learnt that there was a prior misunderstanding at the same location before the incident.
Farhan told The Vibes that the suspect’s remand had been extended for another seven days, from July 3 to July 10.
“The suspect, a foreigner, will be charged at court in the nearest time,” he said, adding that the investigation falls under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
A local newspaper, Daily Express, reported that the Sandakan Diocese is waiting for the outcome of the investigation.
Bishop Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom was reported as saying that they have always tried their best to ensure the safety of the church and its compound. – The Vibes, July 4, 2022
