Police have arrested a 67-year-old local man in connection with a criminal intimidation case involving a shotgun at a road construction site along Jalan Bako on Thursday.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Kuching district police headquarters (IPD Kuching) said the incident involved a 24-year-old man who was working at the project site when the suspect approached him in an agitated state while allegedly armed with a shotgun.
The suspect reportedly ordered the victim and his co-worker to stop work immediately and fired two shots into the air as a warning, demanding that the heavy machinery be removed from the area.
Police investigations found that the workers were carrying out land-clearing operations after their company had obtained an approval letter from the Public Works Department. The victim also told police that he had no knowledge of any compensation issues, as he was employed solely as a heavy-machinery operator and was not involved in management decisions.
IPD Kuching said the incident took place in a forested area currently being cleared for road construction.
The suspect has been remanded to assist investigations under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation and Section 39 of the Arms Act 1960.
Police have reminded the public not to take matters into their own hands in ways that could endanger lives, urging instead that disputes or complaints be raised through proper legal channels.
