Police have arrested three local men following a violent group assault in Sibu after a video showing a man being attacked by a large crowd circulated on social media.
The 19-second video, which was shared on Facebook, showed a man being surrounded and repeatedly attacked by a group of men along a road in the town area. The incident reportedly involved between 20 and 30 people, with the Malay victim sustaining serious injuries.
Sibu police said they became aware of the footage circulating online and also received a report from a 23-year-old local man on Aug 9. The case was subsequently referred to the Criminal Investigation Department for further action.
Based on information gathered during the investigation, police conducted operations at three separate locations in Sibu and arrested three men believed to be connected to the incident.
The suspects, all locals, are aged between 21 and 60. They are currently being detained as police work to establish what happened and determine the respective roles of those involved.
Police are expected to bring the three suspects before the Sibu Court today (Aug 11) to seek a remand extension to facilitate further investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt using a weapon or dangerous means. Those convicted may face up to 20 years in prison, along with a fine or whipping.
Investigations are also being conducted under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting while armed. Conviction under the provision carries a maximum five-year jail term, a fine, or both.
Police have yet to disclose the motive behind the confrontation or confirm whether other suspects remain at large as investigations are ongoing. The involvement and ultimate responsibility of those arrested will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
Members of the public who witnessed the incident or have information that could assist the investigation have been urged to contact the police. Those with videos, photographs or other material relating to the incident are also advised to hand them over to authorities rather than sharing them further, to avoid affecting the investigation.
