SANDAKAN: An altercation between two foreign workers of a palm oil plantation, who were allegedly drunk, turned deadly when one of them was murdered last Wednesday.
The incident came to light the following day, after other plantation workers found the 43-year-old victim's body behind their quarters in Segaliud at around 6am.
Acting District Police Chief Superintendent Ramasamy Kuppan said that based on preliminary investigations, the police believe the victim was murdered due to the slash wounds found on the back of his body and neck.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, who was also a worker at a nearby palm oil plantation, had visited his friend's house, where they are believed to have been drinking alcohol, on July 10.
"It is believed that while the victim was drinking with his friends, he was slashed by one of his colleagues using a sharp weapon," he said in a statement today.
Ramasamy added that the suspect fled the scene immediately after the incident, and the police are actively trying to locate and arrest him.
"Checks at he scene also showed that the victim died at the location, and his body was only discovered by the plantation workers the following morning.
"Further investigation is ongoing, and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder," he said.