Police have arrested nine people, aged between 16 and 42, in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old man during a fight at a public park along Jalan Gambir in Sibu early Saturday.
Sibu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the suspects were detained at several locations around Sibu between 10am and 4pm.
The arrests followed intelligence gathering and investigations by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Sibu District Police Headquarters.
Police received a report at around 2am regarding a fight in which the complainant was allegedly assaulted by a group of individuals.
“During the incident, a man was believed to have been stabbed with a sharp weapon and was pronounced dead by medical personnel from Sibu Hospital,” he said in a statement on Saturday night.
The incident also went viral on Facebook, drawing public attention.
Earlier reports indicated that the victim had sustained a stab wound to his chest during the incident, which allegedly occurred around midnight.
He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment but later died.
Abang Zainal Abidin said the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
If convicted, those found guilty face the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, along with at least 12 strokes of the cane.
Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation.
