KUCHING: Police have arrested a local man for allegedly causing property damage and committing arson in the Taman Sepawie residential area on Wednesday (Jan 15).
Acting on gathered intelligence, a team from Gita police station apprehended the 44-year-old at a house along Jalan Cenderawasih yesterday (Jan 16).
Kuching police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah, in a statement, said the arrest was in connection with a case of property damage and arson that occurred on Wednesday.
“Preliminary investigations found that the suspect had damaged the windscreens of two cars using stones and flower pots between 2 am and 2.30 am in Taman Sepawie.
“In addition, the suspect is also detained to facilitate investigations into a case of arson in the same area,” he said.
The suspect, who tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, is being remanded to facilitate investigations under Section 427 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, the section carries up to five years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both.
Mohd Farhan urged those with information regarding the case to report it to the investigating officer, Insp Logeswara Tharumalay@Krishnan, at 018-2914239, Kuching police operations centre at 082-24444, or the nearest police station.
Recently, a resident using the Facebook name Jeffrey Sheffrie shared that at least two persons were seen carrying out the attacks in their neighbourhood.
They also hurled Molotov cocktails into the compound of a house, causing the front area of the property and a car to catch fire.
“Luckily, only the front part of the house was torched, and it was quickly doused by the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) around 3 am.
“This could have been done by someone bent on revenge or having a grudge against our neighbourhood. It is quite scary, and we have to be vigilant about our surroundings,” he said in a Facebook post.
Jeffrey said the incident reminded him of the old days when he first moved into the neighbourhood and created a neighbourhood watch where, almost every night, residents would guard their area in turns.
“But now, the camaraderie (of the past) is gone, and it seems nobody is interested in being on guard, even on a rotation basis,” he said.
