KUCHING: Police will conduct regular patrols at churches following an incident where a mentally unstable man stormed into St Joseph’s Cathedral and disrupt the sunset mass last Saturday.
This was confirmed by Kuching police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah in a statement last night.
He added that patrols aim to ensure churchgoers feel safe while performing their religious duties.
“On March 8, at around 6.50 pm, the district police headquarters received a public tip-off that an unknown man had entered the cathedral’s main gate in a vehicle while playing loud music and holding a bottle of liquor.
“The 25-year-old then started cursing, shattered the bottle, and left in an angry state.
“Acting on information, a team from the central police station detained the man and took him to the station for further action,” he said.
The man’s family later came forward with documents confirming that he was receiving treatment at Kota Sentosa Hospital.
Mohd Farhan said the family was concerned as he had not been taking his prescribed medication.
The case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for destroying, damaging, or desecrating a place of worship with the intention of insulting religion, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.
Anyone with information is urged to report them to the Kuching IPD control centre at 082-244444 or investigating officer Insp Ang Mei Cin at 010-7039818.
The public is advised against speculating or spreading unverified information about the incident.
