Hunters held for accidentally shooting friend

 
LUBOK ANTU: Three hunters were arrested last Thursday (June 22) to facilitate investigations into the accidental shooting of their friend, who was mistaken for a wild monkey in Engkilili.
 
Lubok Antu police chief DSP Victor Ripon said the victim’s friends, aged between 19 and 46, were arrested and taken to Lubok Antu police station.
 
Also seized were a firearm, five bullets, a casing, and the victim’s belongings as part of the ongoing investigation.
 
Investigations found that the mishap in Temawai Angat forest happened when the 45-year-old victim went on a hunting trip with his three friends around 10am.
 
Upon entering the forest, they spotted a troop of monkeys and proceeded to hunt for them.
 
The suspect and the victim were armed, while the other two were unarmed and had been instructed to scare the monkeys to the location where the crosshairs were waiting.
 
“Amidst the pursuit, the suspect had spotted a silhouette and discharged his weapon, believing he was aiming at a wild monkey about 25 metres away.
 
“However, the unintended target turned out to be his own friend, who was found motionless and unconscious,” he said.
 
Faced with the gravity of the situation, the 46-year-old suspect instructed the others to seek assistance from longhouse residents in transporting the victim back to their dwelling.
 
However, the victim had been pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was taken to Sri Aman Hospital for further action.
 
The case is being investigated under Section 304A of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence and Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 for unlawful possession of firearms.