KAPIT: What was supposed to be a joyous hunting trip turned tragic when a 40-year-old man was shot dead by his friend who had mistaken him for a wild boar.
The victim had been identified as farmer Liee Amat from Rumah Roma, Sungai Ranan, Kanowit.
Kapit District Police chief DSP Freddy Bian said a 44-year-old suspect who is also from the same longhouse as the victim was arrested after he lodged a police report at 3.05am yesterday.
Freddy said prior to the incident at 3pm on Saturday (March 30) the suspect together with five others had taken a ride on a longboat to go to a jungle in Putai, Kapit, about eight hours from Kapit Bazaar to hunt for wild animals.
“After they arrived at Putai, the suspect and the victim went into the jungle and went separate ways while four others stayed behind to set up a fish net in the river.
“When the suspect saw something moving in the bush about 100 metres away he took aim with his shotgun and fired a shot thinking that it must be a wild boar. However, the shot hit his hunting partner who screamed in pain.
“The suspect then rushed to the scene and saw his partner bleeding profusely and lifeless. He then immediately came out of the jungle to call their four friends who helped him to bring out the body to the police station,” Freddy said, adding that the suspect who has a licence to carry gun is being detained for further investigation.
