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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Two main suspects in Keningau clash held

KENINGAU - Police here detained two more people believed to be the main suspects involved in Sunday's street fight which left three locals, injured. Deputy District Police Chief ASP Awang Damit said their arrest brought the number of those detained to three, aged between 22 and 34.

"However, we are getting closer to arresting the main suspect in the case as well as several others involved in the attack.

"We also believe that those involved have gone into hiding.

However, we will look at the video which has gone viral over social media and try to identify the individuals involved," he said.

He said apart from the information gathered from those already detained, police are also using the video which has been uploaded to Facebook to identify at least five more people.

"We have identified some of them and expect to make arrests soon," he said.

Awang said most of those involved are believed to be workers or fish mongers in the wet market. He brushed aside rumours that the incident had to do with a misunderstanding between gangs or that it was a fight between different races.

"Even though the motive of the incident is not clear, we suspect that it happened due to a misunderstanding between civilians, among them those who have been drinking alcohol beverages," he said.

Awang also denied social media reports that one of the victims lost an arm during the fight, or that someone had died.

"We have monitored the victim and we confirm that two of the three victims had returned to their homes after receiving outpatient treatment, while the third is in stable condition and has been transferred from the Intensive Care Unit ward to the normal ward.

"Doctors said that the victim will be discharged on Friday if his condition continues to be stable," he explained. He advised civilians not to panic or to believe rumours spread by negative sentiments.

On Sunday, three local men were attacked by a group of up to eight men armed with parangs, iron rods and planks following a misunderstanding during an alcohol drinking session at the central market area.

A 34-year-old fishmonger suspected involved was arrested under Section 148 of the Penal Code for possessing weapons at a riot.

Meanwhile, Star Sabah chief Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, said the Government should increase security in the Interior especially Keningau district following what happened.

He also advised youths not to venture into unsafe locations or consume too much alcohol as it would only lead to trouble.

"I also urge the media including those on the Net not to make speculations.

The news about the incident, spread on social media, was not true.

The case only involved some individuals and had nothing to do with any specific races or groups," he said, after visiting the victim.

Jeffrey also thanked the police who had briefed him about the incident but that he is still not satisfied with the level of security provided by the security force in the district.

The victim, Manayoh Palanok, was admitted to hospital after he was severely beaten in the Tuesday incident.

He had been since been transferred from the ICU ward in Keningau Hospital at 2pm on Wednesday.

Manayoh explained that the incident happened following a misunderstanding and denied the reports in the social media that it was between him and some foreigners.

Keningau Acting Police Chief ASP Awang Damit Suanda said the police had detained a man to assist in the investigation and the case will be investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code.

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