KUCHING: Villagers apprehended a man suspected of stealing cables and causing power cuts to some homes yesterday.
Padawan district police chief Supt Aidil Bolhassan said at around 3.45pm at Kampung Beradau Kakad Quarry, Batu 16, Jalan Kuching Serian, villagers spotted a man who was “hooking” down the electricity cable.
He said the man’s attempt at bringing down the cable had caused power supply interruption to some homes.
“In the process of apprehending the 41-year-old suspect, two of the villagers suffered injuries.
“One suffered cuts to his chest while another, a slash to his left arm by the suspect who was armed with a folding knife during the scuffle that ensued.
“The suspect from Siniawan, Bau was beaten up by the villagers before he was handed over to the police.
“He (suspect) suffered a broken left hand, injuries to his left shoulder, and bruises to his body and face,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Aidil pointed out that acting on the report received, police were deployed to the scene and arrested the suspect.
“We also seized a cutter, a hook, a flash light, a folding knife, a test pen and several cables.”
Aidil said the suspect was brought to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) where he was warded at the Yellow Zone while the two villagers were given outpatient treatment.
According to Aidil, the suspect who had no prior criminal record was remanded yesterday at 2pm to facilitate police investigation under Section 379 of the Penal Code and 324 of the same Code.
Separately, a teenage girl claimed she was sexually assaulted by an unknown individual at a hospital toilet yesterday.
The victim, a daughter of a janitor, alleged that a man in a red T-shirt, long pants and was bare-footed, “hugged” her from behind in the restroom between the emergency and the ward area at 2pm.
Sources however said the suspect was suffering from mental illness.
Following the incident, security personnel on duty tried to locate the suspect.
