Criminal intimidation, blackmailing suspect remanded

MIRI: The Magistrates’ Court here on Tuesday remanded for three days a man arrested for criminal intimidation and blackmailing a senior citizen to facilitate police investigation.

Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa issued the order after allowing a remand application by assistant investigating officer Sgt Syukri Sidi. In his application, Syukri said on Monday, a complainant filed a report claiming he was threatened by a man known to him.

In his report, the 62-year-old said he was approached by the suspect around 1am the same day in a 24hour coffeeshop at High Street.

The suspect accused the complainant of informing the police about his activities, which led to him being detained in the police lockup. Although the complainant claimed he had no idea about the matter, the suspect allegedly asked for compensation and tried to beat up the complainant, but the latter managed to escape.

Acting on information received, the police arrested a man at Jalan Chia Tze Chin on suspicion of his involvement in the case.

In his application, Syukri applied for a four- day remand order under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code as he said the investigation could not be completed in 24 hours.

He said police also needed time to record the caution statement of the accused as well as witnesses.

However, the court only allowed the suspect to be remanded until today.