A dispute believed to be linked to unpaid debt and heated words allegedly turned violent after a teenage girl was found seriously injured with slash wounds to her neck inside a toilet at a house in Kampung Tuntuluk, Nosoob, on Thursday.
The 16-year-old foreign teenager was discovered unconscious and covered in blood at around 12.30pm. She was later rushed to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital for emergency treatment.
Penampang district police chief Sammy Newton said police received a report regarding the incident at 12.35pm before launching an immediate investigation.
According to preliminary investigations, the victim had been at home with her young nephew while helping to care for the child as her sister-in-law was at work. The suspect allegedly arrived at the house to meet the victim’s sister-in-law over outstanding payment for plumbing repair work.
Police said the teenager had been holding a kitchen knife while preparing food when the suspect claimed she uttered offensive remarks that triggered his anger. He allegedly snatched the knife before slashing the victim’s neck and pushing her against the toilet wall, causing severe injuries to her head and neck.
The suspect reportedly fled the scene immediately after the attack. However, a police team from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Penampang district police headquarters managed to track down and arrest the 29-year-old foreign man at a roadside bush area in Pekan Kinarut Lama, Papar, at around 5.50pm the same day.
Further checks found the suspect had no valid identification documents. Initial urine screening tests also returned positive for methamphetamine.
Police confirmed the victim remains in stable condition despite suffering serious injuries, including slash wounds to the neck and a deep wound on the left side of her head.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder. Authorities have also urged the public not to spread false information or speculation that could disrupt investigations and cause unnecessary public concern.
