A woman suffered serious injuries after she was allegedly attacked with a machete by her husband, who accused her of speaking to a male neighbour, in Kampung Mangkupa, Kota Marudu, on Thursday.
The incident, which occurred at about 8.30am, left the 40-year-old victim with severe injuries to her neck, chin, both hands and knee after she was allegedly assaulted by her 50-year-old husband.
Kota Marudu District Police Chief Superintendent Simiun Lomidin said preliminary investigations found that the attack was triggered by the suspect’s jealousy.
He said the victim had stepped outside her house to check on the surroundings when the suspect confronted her, accusing her of talking to a male neighbour.
The woman denied the allegation, leading to a heated argument between the couple.
A witness, believed to be the victim’s niece who was inside the house, saw the suspect head to the kitchen, retrieve a machete and walk towards the victim, who was standing outside the house.
The suspect allegedly forced the victim to the ground before placing the machete against her neck.
Fearing for their safety, the witness ran into a room and hid with the victim’s children before later hearing the woman screaming for help.
After the suspect fled through the back door, the witness came out and found the victim lying in a pool of blood outside a neighbouring house.
A neighbour who had just returned from a rubber plantation discovered the injured woman and immediately contacted emergency services.
Police investigations later revealed that the suspect had repeatedly accused his wife of having affairs with neighbouring men, allegations that the victim consistently denied.
The victim told investigators she struggled with the suspect and used both hands to fend off the machete, sustaining injuries to her hands, chin, eyebrow and knee during the attack.
The suspect is believed to have fled after seeing the victim covered in blood.
Police are currently tracking down the suspect, an Indonesian national, while the case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code.
The victim is reported to be in stable condition and will be referred to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu for further treatment.
