.png)
PENAMPANG - A reprimand over a noisy motorcycle is believed to have led to three men being seriously injured after they were attacked with a knife during a brawl here.
In the incident around 9.30pm, a 37-year-old suspect injured three victims aged between 35 and 40.
Penampang district police chief Superintendent Sammy Newton , said police received information regarding the fight, which broke out while a group of individuals was gathering and playing carrom.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred when the suspect, who is also the victims' neighbour, rode past the area on a motorcycle with a loud engine noise.
"A reprimand by one of the victims sparked an argument before escalating into a fight. During the incident, all three victims suffered body and hand injuries after being attacked with a knife," he told Sinar Harian.
Sammy added that all victims received treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) in Kota Kinabalu and are currently reported to be in stable condition.
Following the incident, a team from the Penampang District Police Headquarters (IPD) Criminal Investigation Department, alongside officers from the Putatan Police Station, successfully arrested the suspect at 10.00 pm in a village in Putatan.
"Initial enquiries suggest the incident occurred spontaneously due to a misunderstanding and the suspect's dissatisfaction after being confronted over his motorcycle's noise. Checks also revealed no prior disputes or grudges between the suspect and the victims," he said.
He noted that the suspect's arrest allowed police to complete initial actions towards resolving the case.
"Further investigations are ongoing, including taking statements from several witnesses and obtaining closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage at the scene to complete the investigation paper. The case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code, and the investigation paper will be referred to the prosecution for further action," he said.
Meanwhile, Sammy advised the public not to spread unverified information or upload any images and videos related to the incident on social media, as such actions could disrupt investigations and cause public concern.
