SARIKEI: Police arrested a 38-year-old local man in connection with an incident in which several banking machines of a bank along Jalan Masjid Lama were damaged.
Sarikei district police chief Supt Aswand Anis said preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred at about 12.05am on Nov 1, when the suspect allegedly used a machete to damage two automated teller machines (ATMs), two cash deposit machines (CDMs) and a cheque deposit machine.
“The suspect was believed to have acted out of anger after failing to withdraw money from an ATM. He also admitted to being intoxicated at the time,”he said in a statement yesterday (Nov 1)
Following the incident, the suspect drove a Toyota Hilux four-wheel-drive vehicle against the flow of traffic before crashing into a road divider along Jalan Masjid Lama.
A 21-year-old man who attempted to apprehend the suspect suffered serious injuries to his left hand after being slashed with the machete.
The victim was subsequently taken to Sarikei Hospital for further treatment.
Supt Aswand said the suspect later surrendered himself at the Sarikei police station.
Police also seized the Toyota Hilux and a machete believed to have been used in the incident.
A urine screening test found that the suspect tested positive for ketamine and benzodiazepine (Benzo).
Investigations also revealed that he had no previous criminal record.
The case is being investigated under Sections 427 and 326 of the Penal Code, Section 45(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Aswand said police viewed incidents of this nature seriously and advised members of the public against taking matters into their own hands in situations that could endanger their safety.
He urged the public to report any criminal incidents to the police for appropriate action.
