SIBU: Police have arrested three men following the circulation of a 19-second video on Facebook showing a man allegedly being assaulted by a group of men here.
Sibu district police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said police detected the viral video and subsequently received a report from a 23-year-old local man on Aug 9 in connection with the incident.
“Following the report, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) immediately took action to investigate and trace those involved in the incident.
“As a result, three primary suspects were arrested at three separate locations around Sibu,” he said in a statement today.
The suspects are local men aged between 21 and 60 and were arrested to assist in further investigations.
Abang Zainal said all three suspects are expected to be brought before the Magistrates’ Court today for an application for a remand order.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, an offence punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine or whipping, if convicted.
The case is also being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting while armed with a deadly weapon or anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death.
“Under Section 148 of the Penal Code, those convicted may face imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both,” he said.
Abang Zainal stressed that investigations are still ongoing and police would take stern action against all individuals found to be involved in the incident.
He urged the public not to speculate about the case or redistribute the video, as doing so could interfere with the ongoing investigation.
“Members of the public who have any information related to the incident are urged to come forward and provide the information to the police to assist in the investigation,” he said.
