TAWAU - A man allegedly raped a teenage girl while she was on her way home from a wedding reception at a workers’ housing area of a plantation in this district last Sunday.
Tawau district police chief Assistant Commissioner Jasmin Hussin said police received a report about the 11pm incident from the 17-year-old victim's stepfather.
"A police report was lodged at about 12.55am on Monday after he was informed by his stepdaughter that she had become the victim of a sexual assault by a man known to her.
"He said the victim claimed that while on her way home after attending a wedding reception, she was grabbed and pulled into the house of the known suspect, who then covered her mouth with a cloth before raping her," he said in a statement.
Following the report, Jasmin said a team from Bombalai Police Station together with personnel from the Sabah Softwood Berhad Auxiliary Police launched an operation to locate the suspect.
"As a result of the swift action, police managed to arrest a labourer who is also a foreign national aged in his 20s at about 12.10am in front of the workers’ housing here.
"Several items were also seized including a shirt, trousers and a mattress believed to be linked to the incident to assist investigations," he added.
Jasmin added that the case is being investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code for the offence of rape.
"A thorough investigation into the case is being conducted. In the meantime, the public are urged to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious behaviour to protect their own safety and that of their neighbours," he said.