A 41-year-old man has been arrested to assist investigations into the death of his 44-year-old girlfriend, who is believed to have been assaulted following an argument between them.
Penampang district police chief Superintendent Sammy Newton said the woman was taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital I (HQE I) in Kota Kinabalu on Monday.
She was reportedly unconscious when she arrived at the hospital and was pronounced dead later that night.
Sammy said a team from the Penampang District Criminal Investigation Division (BSJD) acted swiftly and detained the local man, who is believed to have been the victim’s boyfriend.
“Initial investigations found that the incident was believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding between the victim and the man before she was allegedly assaulted,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Police subsequently conducted an examination at the scene with assistance from the D10 Forensic Unit of the Sabah Criminal Investigation Department.
Several items and samples linked to the case were recovered for further investigation and forensic analysis.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Sammy urged the public not to speculate or draw conclusions about the incident while investigations and legal proceedings are ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Mohd Hairie Awang Akub at 016-803 2849 or approach any nearby police station.
