Four men arrested for rioting, remanded to assist in police investigation

MIRI: Four men arrested on suspicion of rioting in front of an entertainment outlet here were ordered by a magistrate’s court to be remanded for three days to facilitate police investigation.

Magistrate Eleanor Mako Timothy issued the order after allowing a remand application by prosecuting officer Insp Mohd

Fitri Kukong.

In his application, Fitri said that on Jan 5, a 19-year-old boy made a police report at Miri Central Police Station, claiming that around 1am that same day, while being at an entertainment outlet in Pelita Commercial Centre here with his friends, an argument broke out between them and a group of about 10 unknown men.

He said the argument broke out after one of them accidentally bumped his shoulder against one of the men in the other group.

The argument spilled outside the entertainment outlet and ended with a fight, which was later stopped by staff of the outlet.

When he reached home, the complainant found out that his right eye was swollen, and immediately lodged a police report.

Following the report, police arrested a man at North Yu Seng Road around 8.30pm on Jan 6 on suspicion of his involvement in the case.

The second, third and fourth suspects were arrested at 9.30pm of the same day at Jalan Kwangtung here.

In his application, Fitri said a four-day remand according to Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code was needed on the suspects, aged 27, 27, 27 and 24-yearsold from Kampung Muhibbah,

Kuala Baram, to enable the police to carry out a thorough investigation.

The police also needed time to trace other suspects still at large, and releasing them early might jeopardise investigation, he added.

However, the court only allowed a three-day remand until Jan 10.