Police detain five men after viral video shows teacher’s car chased and damaged near Jesselton Quay
PETALING JAYA: Police have detained five local men to assist investigations into a viral incident in which a teacher’s vehicle was allegedly chased, threatened and damaged near Jesselton Quay in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday.
Acting Kota Kinabalu police chief Superintendent Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said police were referring to a viral social media video showing a group acting aggressively towards a vehicle near the traffic lights in the area.
He said a police report was lodged at about 2.35pm on March 28 by a 30-year-old local man, who works as a teacher.
“Initial investigations found that the incident is believed to have taken place at around 1.45pm on the same day, after the complainant had attended an event at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC),” he said in a statement today.
Syed Lot said the complainant was heading to his vehicle in a parking area near a courier company’s warehouse at Kota Kinabalu Port when he encountered several individuals believed to be workers there.
“A verbal provocation took place before the situation turned tense, causing the complainant to reverse his vehicle and accidentally hit another vehicle.”
He said several individuals then allegedly chased the complaiant’s vehicle and acted aggressively.
“Several individuals chased the complainant’s vehicle and acted aggressively by smashing the driver-side window and the rear windscreen of the vehicle.
“The complainant also alleged that he was threatened to get out of the vehicle during the incident.”
Syed Lot said police moved swiftly after receiving information on the incident and detained five local men to assist in the investigation.
He added that police would apply to remand the suspects to facilitate further investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief and Section 506 of the same law for criminal intimidation.
The incident is believed to have occurred on Saturday afternoon near a warehouse area close to the Kota Kinabalu port, after the complainant had attended an event at SICC.
Videos and images of the incident later went viral, showing what appeared to be a silver Perodua Ativa surrounded by several men, while aftermath photos showed shattered windows, glass fragments inside the cabin and dents on the side of the vehicle.