TAWAU: A 19-year-old boy arrested for beating up a Form 4 student, who was later found dead, is being remanded for seven days to facilitate investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
The victim, 16-year-old Mohd Ayieruchizamsyah Lambang, is believed to have been assaulted over his budding relationship with the suspect’s 15-year-old sister.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Fadil Marsus said the suspect, who works as a labourer here, has no criminal record – although neither he nor his sister have valid identification documents.
“Based on (initial) investigations, Mohd and the suspect’s sister (had struck up a friendship) via WeChat, and had known each other only for two weeks.
“The suspect had never met the victim – until last Sunday,” Fadil said when contacted.
On Sunday, the suspect ambushed and bashed Mohd with a piece of wood.
Following the incident, the SMK Kuhara student returned home with a bloody nose and bruises on his neck and face. He told his mother that he had been assaulted by a stranger.
The next morning, Mohd’s mother found him slumped on the floor at their Kampung Pisang home.
Police picked up the suspect and his sister for questioning the same day.
Meanwhile, Mohd’s father, Lambang Sundang, 59, has disputed the assertion that the attack was triggered by his late son’s relationship with the suspect’s sister.
“I don’t believe that they had a ‘love relationship’ at such a young age. If certain quarters claim that they were a couple, it is not true. My son was just a friendly person and he easily made friends with anyone,” he said
Mohd’s mother, Haryani Lahabe, 49, said the incident could have been avoided, and that the tragic event should serve as a lesson to everyone not to take matters into their own hands.