Man coaxed out of smoky bedroom found to be housebreaking suspect
KUCHING: A man who had to be coaxed out of a smoky bedroom unit along with his foreign female companion by firefighters on Tuesday was arrested yesterday after being identified as a housebreaking suspect.
Kota Samarahan acting deputy chief ASP Rafhan Kepli confirmed in a statement that the man is wanted for a series of housebreakings as well as a breakin at a beauty parlour in the Kota Samarahan area.
Also arrested was the suspect’s female companion, who is being investigated under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying.
“The male suspect is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code,” said Rafhan.
He said police discovered and seized several items, which are believed to be stolen, from the suspect.
“We will also call up the victims of housebreaking cases to identify if the recovered items belong to them,” he added.
On Tuesday, firefighters managed to gently persuade the couple to come out of their smoky bedroom unit after they deliberately set boxes alight at its entrance.
A statement from the Fire and
Rescue Department said the incident at a shoplot at Jalan Dato Mohamad Musa involved the 56-year-old local man and the woman, believed to be a Filipina.
“After the boxes were set on fire, the duo locked themselves inside the room,” Kota Samarahan Fire Station chief Ebby Hirwandy Sarbini said in the statement.
Ebby said a member of the public, who saw great plumes of smoke billowing out of the commercial shoplot, called the department at 4.50pm.
Rescuers gave medical treatment to the couple at the site before taking the man to the Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre for further treatment.
Police at the scene later brought the woman to the Kota Samarahan district police headquarters for further action.
The Mental Health Association of Sarawak offers free mental health counselling services. The association can be contacted on Facebook or by calling 0168082015.
Befrienders is a not-for-profit organisation providing emotional support to people who are lonely, in distress, in despair, and having suicidal thoughts. Call 082-242800 or email admin@befrienderskch. org.my.