Screen grabs of a woman being attacked by a robber in Kota Kinabalu town
KOTA KINABALU: Police have arrested a man in connection with the brutal assault and robbery of a woman in a back alley in the city here last week.
The incident of a man using a stick to beat a woman during the robbery was captured on video and went viral on social media on Monday (Feb 19).
The woman is seen in the video trying to escape from the man who pursues, drags her away and beats her with a stick.
Acting Kota Kinabalu City police chief Supt Kalsom Idris said the 50-year-old victim, who works with a bank, suffered head and body injuries during the 6.30am Friday (Feb 16) incident.
She said the man escaped with about RM5,000 in cash and the victim's mobile phone.
She said police received a report on Saturday (Feb 17) and arrested the suspect in follow-up investigations.
Supt Kalsom said the 29-year-old suspect did not have any personal identity documents and was from Kg Pondo in Pulau Gaya. He was tested positive for drugs.
The case was being investigated under Sections 392 and 397 of the Penal Code for robbery and causing hurt with weapons in the commission of the crime, respectively.
Supt Kalsom also advised the public to be cautious especially in secluded areas as criminals might take the opportunity to pounce.
"Remain alert to your surroundings as criminals might take the opportunity to cause harm," she said, advising the people to also avoid secluded lanes, especially at night.
In an unrelated case, police arrested an 18-year-old on Thursday (Feb 15) after he robbed two women within a space of six hours in back alleys here.
In the first incident, the suspect assaulted and robbed a woman clerk of RM50 at about noon. She sustained injuries to her head and body in the attack.
The suspect was arrested in the vicinity when police and members of the public caught him after he snatched a handphone from another woman.
