IPOH: A 37-year-old man, who was beaten up by members of the public who had accused him of being a burglar, died in hospital yesterday.
The incident began at Lebuh Rapat Baru, Taman Lapangan Indah, here on Monday when the man, identified as Weng Keong Chiong, was captured while allegedly trying to break into a house in the area.
Several other people, allegedly his accomplices, managed to escape.
It was learnt that the locals then rounded up on Weng and beat him up before he was brought to the Kampung Rapat police station.
Weng was then taken to the Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun for treatment for head injuries. He died at 5.30am yesterday.
Ipoh district police chief ACP Sum Chang Keong said police received a report from the victim's mother.
The results of the post-mortem examination concluded that he died due to head injuries caused by a blunt object.
Sum said the victim was accused of trying to break into a house in the area with several others, who escaped.
“Police are looking for his friends who had escaped, as well as the locals who had assaulted him,” he said.
The case is being investigated for murder.