KOTA KINABALU: A man was fatally stabbed at a staircase beside a business premises in Sulaman Sentral, Kuala Manggatal, early today.
The 31-year-old victim is believed to have been trying to stop a suspect from chasing a food vendor following an argument between the two over a business-related disagreement.
Kota Kinabalu deputy district police chief, Superintendent Syed Lot, Syed Abdul Rahman said preliminary investigations found that the suspect had initially argued with the food vendor before attempting to stab him with a folding knife.
However, the vendor managed to evade the attack and flee, prompting the suspect to chase him.
“The victim, a local man who was at a snooker centre with his friend at the time, is believed to have tried to stop the suspect from continuing to chase the vendor.
“The suspect is then believed to have taken a meat cleaver before encountering the victim on a staircase on the first floor, near a business premises.
“The suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the right side of his chest. The victim tried to flee but collapsed in a nearby parking area,” he said in a statement today.
Lot said the victim’s family rushed to the scene after receiving a call and took him to Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas for emergency treatment.
However, the victim was pronounced dead at 6.44am.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Members of the public with information about the incident are urged to assist investigations by contacting the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters hotline at 088-529222 or any nearby police station.