A 29-year-old man in Malaysia has been arrested after allegedly attacking a 16-year-old girl with a knife during a dispute over unpaid plumbing repair fees in Penampang, Sabah.
The violent incident reportedly happened around 12:30pm on May 7 at a residence in Nosoob, Penampang. According to local reports, the suspect had gone to the house to collect money allegedly owed for pipe repair work carried out for the victim’s sister-in-law.
Police said the teenage girl was at home at the time, looking after her younger nephew while her sister-in-law was away at work. The situation allegedly escalated after an argument broke out between the suspect and the victim.
Investigators said the girl had been preparing food in the kitchen and was holding a kitchen knife before the suspect allegedly grabbed the weapon from her.
Victim Suffers Serious Head And Neck Injuries
Authorities claimed the suspect became enraged after accusing the teenager of insulting him. He then allegedly used the knife to slash the victim multiple times on her head and neck before pushing her into a bathroom wall.
The girl reportedly suffered heavy bleeding and collapsed inside the home following the attack.
Emergency responders later conveyed her to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu for urgent medical treatment. Doctors confirmed that she remained in stable condition despite sustaining severe slash wounds to the left side of her head and injuries to her neck.
The shocking case has drawn attention online due to the brutality of the alleged assault, especially as the dispute reportedly centred around unpaid plumbing fees worth an undisclosed amount.
Suspect Arrested Hours Later
After the incident, the suspect allegedly fled the scene. Police tracked him down several hours later at around 5:50pm near Jalan Pekan Kinarut Lama in Papar.
Authorities revealed that the man did not possess identification documents during the arrest. A urine test also reportedly returned positive for methamphetamine.
Both the suspect and the victim were identified as foreigners, according to local police statements.
The case remains under active investigation as officers continue gathering statements and forensic evidence linked to the assault. Malaysian authorities have not yet disclosed what charges the suspect may face in court.
Incidents involving violent payment disputes have continued to raise concerns across the region, particularly cases involving migrant workers and undocumented individuals. Legal experts note that assault cases involving dangerous weapons can carry severe penalties under Malaysian criminal law, including lengthy jail terms upon conviction.
Police are urging members of the public to resolve financial disagreements through lawful channels instead of resorting to violence.