Fisherman held for axe attack on friend’s head 

14 Aug 2025 • 8:04 AM MYT
Daily Express
Daily Express

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By: Amir Anuar

TAWAU: Police arrested a 48-year-old local fisherman suspected of injuring his friend’s head with an axe at a house in Kampung Pangkalan Asli Merotai Besar.

Acting Tawau District Police Chief Supt Champin Piuh said the suspect was nabbed at about 2.20pm on Tuesday in the same village where the incident occurred on Sunday.

The police report was lodged by the suspect’s 59-year-old brother on Monday, which led to the arrest by officers from Bombalai Police Station.

window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});According to Champin, the complainant had gathered with one of his younger brothers and the victim inside the house when the suspect emerged from a room asking the victim about the whereabouts of a machete.

When the victim went to retrieve the machete, the suspect followed and suddenly became aggressive, striking the victim’s head with an axe.

The victim fled to the yard, bleeding, and called for help before being taken to Merotai Besar Health Clinic by one of the complainant’s brothers.

The motive for the attack remains unknown and is under investigation.

Police have seized the axe believed to have been used in the assault after finding it beneath the house.