:Rape suspect caught within hours

TAWAU, District police believed they had solved a rape and robbery case after a 28 year old man was held in a taxi at St. Patrick road yesterday based on information received.

District Police Chief ACP Jaafar Bin Mohd. Yusof said police received a report by a 22 year old lady working in a lodging house in Sabindo on June 15 around 9.30 am claiming that she was raped by the suspect in one of the room of the lodging house earlier on the same day.

He said that the married Tatur lady works for the house as a cleaner and was cleaning one of the room when the suspect came in and pretended to ask her questions. `The lady was wearing a short skirt and a towel while cleaning the room when the suspect entered’, he added.

Jaafar also said that the suspect suddenly pointed a Bugis knife at her neck and warn her not to shout for help and lock the room’s door before relieving her of her necklace, a ring and a Nokia handphone before raping her. He said that the husband of the victim was sleeping in another room and woke up and began searching for his wife by calling her name and the suspect fled the scene and the victim was later found resulting in the police report being made.

Jaafar said that the suspect was caught with a similar knife and a Nokia handphone believed to belong to the victim while no identification document could be found on him. The suspect will be charged under Section 379/396 of the Penal Code for robbery and rape.